What it Means When you Are Always Cold
Persistent Coldness Symptoms and Causes
By Morgan Radlinger, certified wellness practitioner at Network Health
Originally published on 10/19/2020 at 4:21 p.m.
Living in Wisconsin involves re-acclimating yourself to harsh and extreme weather with the change of seasons that sometimes can change as quickly as a day. For some people, however, feeling cold never really goes away no matter what the season. If you always feel some degree of cold, even when no one else around you feels that way, it may an underlying condition which you’ll want to talk about with your personal doctor.
It is important to mention that everybody has a different “normal” in terms of the way their body operates and functions. Some people may naturally feel the varied degree in temperatures more than others especially during a change in seasons.
Here are some of the common issues associated with a persistent feeling of coldness.
Anemia
Anemia is a condition marked by a lack of proper cellular oxygenation. With anemia, this happens when your body doesn’t make enough normal red blood cells to carry oxygen to your cells.
Anemia is more common than you might expect but it can be severe if left untreated. Additional anemia symptoms you may experience include the following.
- Fatigue
- Pale skin
- Irregular heartbeats
Hypothyroidism
Found at the base of your neck, your thyroid is an important organ when it comes to regulating your metabolism. Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of the thyroid hormone. It can also occur if your body is not effectively processing this hormone.
Although there is no cure, hypothyroidism can be managed with medication. Additional symptoms include the following.
- Thinning hair
- Dry skin
- Fatigue
- Irregular or heavy menstrual periods
- Constipation
- Weight gain
Blood vessel disorders
Disorders that originate in and affect your blood vessels may lead you to feel cold in your hands or feet causing things like white or blue coloring in your extremities, tingling sensations, throbbing or numbness and clammy cold skin.
Blood vessel disorders can include conditions like the following.
- Clotting disorders
- Arteriosclerosis (blood vessels narrow through plaque buildup)
- Raynaud’s disease
Diabetes
In diabetic nephropathy, kidney damage and circulation issues can have you feeling frequently cold. If not treated properly, it can cause nerve damage that makes you feel cold particularly in your feet. Other symptoms may include
- Nausea or vomiting
- Itchiness
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Swelling in the face, hands or feet
Poor blood circulation
Poor circulation occurs when you have poor blood flow to your limbs and can be caused by other health conditions such as diabetes and heart conditions.
Anorexia
This eating disorder causes you to become dangerously thin. Feeling cold is one of the symptoms of anorexia due to not having the insulating layers of fat that normally work to help keep somebody without anorexia warm.
Vitamin B12 deficiency
B12 is an important vitamin that many people naturally consume through fish, meat, eggs, milk and other dairy products. A deficiency of B12 is when you either can’t absorb the B12 or your body isn’t receiving enough through your diet. Other people at risk of B12 deficiencies include people older than 50, have had gastrointestinal surgery and or have digestive issues.
Get warm and cozy with a focus on your health
Ultimately, the best way to determine if you have a medical condition causing you to feel cold all the time is to address your concerns with your personal doctor who can discuss your medical history, help diagnose the source of your persistent coldness and work with you to find a treatment plan.
For more information on how your Network Health plan can help you get the bottom of common symptoms like feeling cold, reach out to us today.
