5 Reasons Why You Can't Stop Shivering

Getting cold all the time is not only annoying, but it could also be a sign of one of these health problems. When you're in a colder place, it's normal to feel cold. Maybe your hands and feet feel cold more often than other parts of your body. 

But if you feel cold all the time, even when it's not that cold, there may be a reason. Here are nine things that could be making you always feel cold.

Being underweight

Low body weight, which is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m2, can make you feel cold for a few different reasons.

First, a nutritionist in Los Angeles named Maggie Moon, RD, told Health that if you are underweight, you don't have enough body fat to protect you from the cold.

Also, having a low BMI may mean that you have less fatty tissue, which, according to a study published in the EPMA Journal in 2022, can make your body make less heat.

Because having a low body weight could also mean that you don't have many muscles, this could also be making you feel cold. Margarita Rohr, MD, an internist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, told Health that this is because muscle helps keep the body's temperature steady by making heat.

What to do: If you are underweight, talk to your doctor. He or she will run tests to find out why you are so skinny. Your doctor may also tell you to gain weight by eating a lot of whole, healthy foods that are high in protein, fat, and complex carbs. And going to the gym's weight room or buying free weights can help you build muscle.

Hypothyroidism

"A sure sign of hypothyroidism is that you're always cold," Holly Phillips, MD, a board-certified internist with a private practice in New York City, told Health. This means that your thyroid isn't making enough thyroid hormone. If you don't have enough of this hormone, your metabolism slows down and you can't make enough heat.

Nearly 5% of Americans have this condition, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). MedlinePlus says that the rates are higher for women and people over the age of 50.

MedlinePlus says the following are signs of hypothyroidism:

• Loss of hair or thinned hair
• Skin and hair are dry
• Heavy or irregular periods
• Gaining weight for no reason

How to do it: If you think you might have a thyroid problem, see your doctor. He or she can confirm the diagnosis with a blood test and give you the right treatment. Signs of thyroid disease you should get checked out right away.

Anemia from a lack of iron

One of the most common reasons for feeling cold all the time is not getting enough iron. Dr. Phillips said that's because iron helps your red blood cells carry oxygen around your body, so it can make heat. Iron is also important because a lack of it can slow down the thyroid, which can lead to hypothyroidism, which can make you feel cold.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute lists the following as other signs of low iron:

• Pale skin
• Cracked nails
• Having trouble focusing
• Not enough air to breathe

How to do it: First, you should get a blood test to find out what's wrong. Then, Moon said, your doctor may tell you to take iron supplements, get an IV infusion, or eat more iron-rich foods like red meat, leafy greens, and eggs, depending on how bad your anemia is.

Poor circulation

If your hands and feet are cold but the rest of your body is warm, you may have a problem with blood flow that keeps blood from getting to your extremities.

Raynaud's disease, also known as Raynaud's phenomenon, is a common cause of problems with blood flow. The American College of Rheumatology says that about 10% of people have primary Raynaud's disease, which isn't caused by another disease like secondary Raynaud's disease. 

Dr. Rohr said that this condition makes the blood vessels in your hands and feet narrow for a short time when they feel cold. Other things that can make it hard for blood to get to your limbs are cardiovascular disease, which makes your heart pump less well, and smoking, which narrows blood vessels.

What to do: Go see your doctor so he or she can figure out if Raynaud's disease is the cause of your circulation problems. Your doctor can help you come up with a treatment plan and make sure your symptoms aren't signs of something more serious, like heart disease.

Dehydration

If you can't get warm, it might mean you need to drink more water. Moon said, "Up to 60% of an adult's body is water, and water helps keep the body at the right temperature."

"If you drink enough water, it will trap your body heat and slowly let it out, keeping your temperature in a comfortable range. When you don't drink enough water, your body is more sensitive to hot and cold "Moon added.

Other signs of dehydration besides feeling cold are:

• Dizziness 
• Dry skin
• Tiredness
• less urine and less sweat than usual
• Urine that is dark
• Tongue-dry

How to do it: Moon said that you should drink at least eight glasses of water a day, but you should always drink more if you work out or spend time in the sun.