It's normal to feel cold, especially if you're in a cold place or an air-conditioned room. However, you need to be careful if the cold does not go away even though you are in a hot place. This can be a symptom of a health problem that is being suffered.
Body temperature is regulated by various organs and tissues in the body, such as the hypothalamus in the brain, nervous system, skin, muscle, and fat tissue. The function of the hypothalamus is to send messages throughout the body to regulate heat production and maintain a normal body temperature, which is around 36-37o Celsius.
In addition to acting as a regulator of body temperature, the hypothalamus also plays a role in controlling the thyroid gland. When the thyroid gland does not function optimally, the body will cause various reactions, one of which is often feeling cold.
Various Causes of the Body Feel Cold
Some people are more sensitive to cold temperatures. However, if you often feel cold even though you're not in a cold place, it could be a sign of a certain disease.
The following are some conditions or diseases that can cause the body to often feel cold:
1. Anemia
Iron and vitamin B12 play an important role in the production of red blood cells, which are cells that carry oxygen and nutrients, and distribute heat throughout the body. Therefore, without sufficient iron and vitamin B12, red blood cells cannot work effectively so the body feels cold. Deficiency of these vitamins and minerals is also a major cause of anemia.
To prevent anemia, you need to eat foods rich in iron and vitamin B12, such as meat, eggs, fish, seafood, and green vegetables, such as spinach. You can also meet these nutritional needs by taking blood-boosting supplements as recommended by your doctor.
2. Dehydration
About 60 percent of the human body consists of water. Adequate water intake plays an important role in controlling body temperature. Therefore, if you are dehydrated, your body will be more sensitive to temperature extremes.
To avoid dehydration, make sure you always meet your body's fluid needs by consuming at least 8 glasses of water per day, especially before and after physical activity.
3. Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland is a thyroid hormone-forming gland located at the front of the neck and is shaped like a butterfly. Without enough thyroid hormone, the body's metabolism becomes slow and body heat production is reduced.
Usually, a person who lacks thyroid hormone is at risk of developing hypothyroidism. One of the symptoms is the body often feels cold accompanied by dry skin, fatigue, and constipation.
4. Diabetes
Uncontrolled diabetes can cause complications, such as nerve and kidney disorders. Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage in diabetics due to high blood sugar levels. This condition is one of the most common complications of diabetes.
Nerve damage from diabetes often causes the feet and hands to tingle or become numb, look pale, and often feel cold. This condition can sometimes also cause pain in the feet and hands.
Diabetes can also cause kidney problems. This condition is also known as diabetic nephropathy. Symptoms can include feeling cold all the time, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, itching, swelling in body parts, and nausea and vomiting.
5. Hypothalamic disorders
Hypothalamic disorders occur when the hypothalamic tissue is damaged. Damage to the hypothalamic tissue can be caused by various things, such as severe head injuries, birth defects, strokes, infections, to autoimmune diseases, for example. multiple sclerosis.
Hypothalamic disorders not only make a person often cold, but also easily overheated. In addition, damage to the hypothalamus also causes various other symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, changes in appetite and libido, and rapid mood swings.
6. Lack of sleep
People who are sleep deprived tend to feel cold more often. This happens because lack of sleep can interfere with the nervous system and the performance of the hypothalamus in the brain which is in charge of regulating body temperature.
It's not clear why this happens, but a study suggests that decreased hypothalamic performance could be due to the body's response to stress due to lack of sleep.
7. Malnutrition or malnutrition
A person who is malnourished or malnourished usually has a body that is too thin or a body mass index (BMI) lower than 18.5. When the body is too thin, fat tissue will be reduced. This can make sufferers often feel cold.
In addition, a lack of calories can also reduce the body's metabolism so that the body is not able to produce enough heat. To overcome this, eat healthy foods that contain lots of protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates.
8. Blood circulation is not smooth
If only the hands and feet feel cold, there could be a problem with blood circulation. This condition can be caused by heart disease, which is a condition when the heart is unable to pump blood effectively. As a result, blood flow to various parts of the body becomes blocked, including the hands and feet.
In addition to the causes described above, there are various other causes that can make the body often feel cold, including:
- Vascular disorders, such as atherosclerosis
- Smoking habit
- Blood clotting disorders
- Raynaud's syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Anxiety disorders
Because it can be caused by many things, complaints of the body often feeling cold should be checked by a doctor. This is important so that the doctor can conduct an examination to determine the exact cause of the complaints you are experiencing.
How to treat a cold body
Treatment to overcome body complaints that often feel cold will be adjusted to the underlying cause. If there is a thyroid disorder, you will need to take medication to treat the problem with the thyroid. If your body feels cold due to anemia, your doctor can give you blood-boosting supplements and advise you to follow a nutritious diet to increase your blood count. However, you can also relieve complaints of feeling cold by doing the following things: Immediately consult a doctor if the body often feels cold and lasts continuously for several days, especially if it makes you shiver and feel weak. The doctor will perform a physical examination and supporting examinations, for example with a blood test, to determine the exact cause of the body feeling cold, then provide appropriate treatment according to the cause.