Do you constantly reach for a sweater when everyone else seems comfortable? Feeling cold all the time can be more than a personal quirk, it could be your body’s way of signaling an underlying issue. From hormonal imbalances to poor circulation, there are several potential reasons you feel like you’re always cold. Let’s explore some of the most common causes and what you can do about them.
Medical Conditions That Affect Body Temperature
Always Cold In My Hands & Feet
Anemia
Anemia occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough healthy red blood cells to deliver oxygen effectively throughout your body. Without adequate oxygen, your tissues (especially in your hands and feet) can feel perpetually cold. Iron deficiency anemia is especially common in women due to menstruation or pregnancy. If you suspect anemia, a simple blood test can confirm it. Your provider may recommend increasing your intake of iron-rich foods like spinach, lentils, and red meat and/or suggest supplementation.
Diabetes
People with diabetes may develop peripheral neuropathy, which damages the nerves in the hands and feet. This can cause poor temperature sensation and lead to feeling cold. Additionally, circulation problems linked to diabetes can make it harder for warm blood to reach your extremities. Diabetes can also be confirmed with a simple blood test. Your provider will recommend treatment based on your blood sugar levels, age, weight, and lifestyle.
Always Cold All Over
Thyroid Issues
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can cause you to feel cold all the time. The thyroid controls metabolism, which affects how much heat your body produces. If your thyroid is sluggish, your metabolism slows, leading to cold intolerance, fatigue, dry skin, and weight gain. Treatment usually involves thyroid hormone replacement and nutritional support. Balanced Body Health & Wellness offers comprehensive thyroid testing that looks for several markers that standards tests ignore.
Low Body Weight
Fat acts as insulation for the body. If you’re underweight, you may have less natural padding to keep you warm. Low body fat also means your body has fewer energy reserves, which can make it harder to maintain a stable core temperature. Being underweight carries additional health risks, so your provider may work with you to develop a healthy diet that will help you gain weight.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals like iron, vitamin B12, and zinc can affect metabolism and circulation, contributing to cold symptoms. Even inadequate protein intake can reduce the body’s ability to generate heat. A balanced diet and supplementation can help address any deficiencies. However, you should always speak to a healthcare professional before adding any new vitamin to your routine.
Hormonal Changes
Most everyone associates menopause with “hot” flashes, but cold flashes are a thing, too! Hormones play a critical role in temperature regulation. Low levels of estrogen or testosterone, common in menopause and andropause, can alter blood flow and metabolism, which leads to cold intolerance. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is a safe and very effective way to treat cold flashes and other symptoms of an imbalance.
Stress
Cortisol (the stress hormone) can influence how efficiently your body uses energy and maintains heat. When stressed, your body redirects blood flow to vital organs as part of the “fight or flight” response, reducing circulation to your skin and extremities. This can make your hands, feet, and entire body feel cold. Managing stress is important not just for your circulation, but for your heart and overall wellness. Talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes that can help lessen your feelings of stress and ways to regulate cortisol production.
When Should You See A Healthcare Provider If You’re Always Cold?
Feeling cold every once in a while is normal, but being consistently cold despite preventive measures or warm weather is often a sign of an underlying health condition and warrants a visit with your healthcare provider. As we discussed, persistent cold intolerance may indicate an issue such as hypothyroidism, anemia, or hormonal imbalance that requires testing and treatment.
Omaha Functional Medicine Clinic
At Balanced Body Health and Wellness, our team takes a whole-body approach to uncovering the root cause of your symptoms. We can help identify hormonal, nutritional, or metabolic imbalances that may be affecting your temperature regulation and get you feeling comfortable again. Contact our Omaha functional medicine clinic today to schedule an appointment.
