Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionCausesRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to Talk to a DoctorFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Causes
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to Talk to a Doctor
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s normal to feel chilly as temperatures drop during the winter. But if you constantly feel cold—regardless of the season—you might have a cold intolerance. This is a sensitivity to cold, which is especially common in women with low body fat.
This article explores the causes, risk factors, and treatment of cold intolerance.
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What Is Cold Intolerance?
Cold intolerance is a sensitivity or hypersensitivity to cold.
It’s completely normal to feel cold if you’re spending time outdoors in the winter. But if you feel cold in situations where other people don’t, you might have a cold intolerance. This can include feeling cold while you’re in your house, or having trouble warming up after spending time outdoors in cold temperatures.
Cold intolerance is often due to issues with themetabolism.
Any condition that affects your hormones, metabolism, or body fat might contribute to a cold intolerance. The following are common causes of cold intolerance.
Anemia
Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. When you are anemic, your body isn’t getting enough oxygen to function properly, which can cause your metabolism to slow. This might result in a cold intolerance. In fact, feeling cold, weak, or tired are commonsymptomsof anemia.
Anorexia
Anorexia nervosais an eating disorder that causes people to vastly restrict their food intake. This often results in a slow metabolism and very little body fat, because people with the condition don’t eat enough to sustain normal bodily functions.
As a result, anorexia can leave a person feeling constantly cold.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidismis a condition in which thethyroid glandis underactive.
The thyroid gland produces hormones that help regulate metabolism and temperature. If you don’t have enough thyroid hormone, you’re more likely to feel cold.
Othersymptomsof hypothyroidism includefatigue,constipationand weight gain.
Raynaud’s Disease
Raynaud’s disease(also known as Raynaud’s syndrome) is a condition in which the fingers turn blue in the cold and bright red when they warm back up.
If you have Raynaud’s disease, you’ll notice the cold in your fingers and hands especially.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgiais a condition in which pain signals do not process properly. This can lead to pain throughout the body and other symptoms.
Cold hasa big impacton people with fibromyalgia, causing their skin to hurt. It’s also difficult for people with fibromyalgia to warm up once they’ve been cold.
Cold intolerance is most common in women who have low body fat.It’s also common in people who have conditions that affect metabolism, hormones, the thyroid, or body fat, which includes all the conditions listed above.
Further, very young babies and older people often struggle to regulate their temperature.
Identifying a cold intolerance is generally based on symptoms alone.However, a cold intolerance is not a diagnosis in itself, but rather a sign of a possible underlying condition.
Talk with your healthcare provider about your cold intolerance and any other symptoms that you might be experiencing. This can help them address the underlying issue so that you can feel more comfortable.
Treating cold intolerance involves identifying the underlying cause. This might include medical testing for certain conditions like hypothyroidism. If your healthcare provider identifies a condition, they can treat that appropriately, which should help regulate your temperature.
You can also make lifestyle changes to help manage cold intolerance, including:
When to Talk to Your Provider
If you are frequently cold and find it difficult to warm up, reach out to a healthcare provider for evaluation and testing. Contact a healthcare provider immediately if you experience changes to your skin from the cold, including color, tingling, numbness, or other concerning symptoms.
Summary
Cold intolerance is a hypersensitivity to cold temperatures. If you find yourself asking, “Why am I always cold?,” consider speaking with a healthcare provider about the cause of your cold intolerance. Causes include conditions like anemia, anorexia, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, and Raynaud’s syndrome. Treatment for cold intolerance involves treating one of these underlying issues.
A Word From Verywell
Feeling cold might seem like a minor irritation. But if you’re frequently cold to the point that you’re uncomfortable, contact your healthcare provider about an evaluation for conditions that cause cold intolerance. In the meantime, wear high-quality cold gear, like base layers, gloves, and hats, which can help keep you warm in the winter.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIf you’re frequently cold, it’s best to talk with a healthcare provider to rule out medical causes. Enjoying time outside and exercise is important for your health, even for people who are cold intolerant. Purchasing a synthetic or wool base layer and a high-quality hat, set of gloves, and coat can help you enjoy the outdoors even with a cold intolerance.
If you’re frequently cold, it’s best to talk with a healthcare provider to rule out medical causes. Enjoying time outside and exercise is important for your health, even for people who are cold intolerant. Purchasing a synthetic or wool base layer and a high-quality hat, set of gloves, and coat can help you enjoy the outdoors even with a cold intolerance.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Cold intolerance.MedlinePlus.Cold intolerance.Cleveland Clinic.Anemia.MedlinePlus.Aging changes in vital signs.Stjernbrandt A, Liljelind I, Nilsson T, Wahlström J.Defining abnormal cold sensitivity using the Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity questionnaire: a population study.J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2021;46(7):731-737. doi:10.1177/1753193421996221
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Cold intolerance.MedlinePlus.Cold intolerance.Cleveland Clinic.Anemia.MedlinePlus.Aging changes in vital signs.Stjernbrandt A, Liljelind I, Nilsson T, Wahlström J.Defining abnormal cold sensitivity using the Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity questionnaire: a population study.J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2021;46(7):731-737. doi:10.1177/1753193421996221
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mount Sinai.Cold intolerance.MedlinePlus.Cold intolerance.Cleveland Clinic.Anemia.MedlinePlus.Aging changes in vital signs.Stjernbrandt A, Liljelind I, Nilsson T, Wahlström J.Defining abnormal cold sensitivity using the Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity questionnaire: a population study.J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2021;46(7):731-737. doi:10.1177/1753193421996221
Mount Sinai.Cold intolerance.
MedlinePlus.Cold intolerance.
Cleveland Clinic.Anemia.
MedlinePlus.Aging changes in vital signs.
Stjernbrandt A, Liljelind I, Nilsson T, Wahlström J.Defining abnormal cold sensitivity using the Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity questionnaire: a population study.J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2021;46(7):731-737. doi:10.1177/1753193421996221
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