Always feeling cold?
Brrr! Feeling chilly yet? We’ve had the first few frosty nights of the winter and, despite a relatively mild season so far, the temperature is starting to dip and we’re beginning to layer up to stave off the chills. Some of us, though, feel cold regardless of the weather or time of year. Sound familiar?
If you’ve ever wondered why you’re more sensitive to lower temperatures than your friends and family, and if there’s anything that can be done about it, grab yourself an extra jumper or blanket now and read on:
Men v’s Women:
One reason you’re feeling a bit chilly could be that you’re a woman. As men have much higher levels of higher muscle mass and therefore burn much more energy when resting, they naturally create more heat in the process. As a result, men are less prone to feeling chilly when the temperature is mild or moderate. So ladies, regular exercise to build muscle is a great way to create some internal heat - and make sure you wrap up warm when you can.
Anaemia:
When your body struggles to make enough normal red blood cells to carry oxygen around your body, you are possibly suffering from a form of Anaemia. Again, women are more susceptible to Anaemia but it’s easily treatable and can be managed with good care from your GP. So if you’re feeling extra tired, looking pale, feeling irregular heartbeats and are extra sensitive to feeling cold then it would be advisable to have this checked out by your doctor.
Blood vessel issues:
Some of the issues associated with heart disease can also contribute to you feeling cold. When the arteries supplying blood to your limbs become narrowed, often as a result of a build up of plaque (Arteriosclerosis), they can struggle to generate heat. A good flow of blood is necessary for us to function properly, and the tissue in our limbs relies on this blood to allow movement and heat to flow. When this blood flow is restricted it can make sufferers more prone to feeling cold. If you feel you’re suffering in this way you do need to have yourself checked out by a medical professional.
Another blood vessel issue that could be causing problems is Raynaud’s Disease. This is where the arteries narrow specifically near the finger and toes and you will feel numbness, find it difficult to move your fingers/toes or notice white or blue colouring in the extremities. This is generally nothing to worry about unless you find it is getting worse and affecting your daily life, your symptoms are only on one side or you’re under the age of 12.
Wearing gloves, thick socks and keeping warm with are useful if you suffer from Raynaud’s Disease.
Warming up:
In these colder winter months it’s lovely to reach for a heated blanket, hot water bottle and lots of warm drinks to keep cosy - and if, like many of us are, you’re working from home just now (and trying to avoid having the heating on ALL day) it’s probably a very good idea to layer up, and also to get up and move regularly in order to keep warm.
However, if you feel that you’re still are susceptible to chills than those around you, you should seek medical advice. Often a simple blood test can rule out anything serious and your GP can help you to manage your symptoms depending on the cause of those chills you’re feeling.
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