Causes of feeling cold all the time

There are certain people that feel cold all the time and remain wrapped up in a sweater, even while all the others around them enjoy a nice breeze. If a person is feeling cold all the time, this is usually linked to one of numerous underlying medical conditions. A person's sensitivity and response towards cold temperatures is totally individual and it varies from person to person. People who are constantly wrapped up in extra clothing need to investigate their lifestyle and determine all the factors that may be a cause of feeling cold all the time. There are a lot of possible reasons behind feeling cold all the time, so people need to learn as much as they can about them.

Common Causes of Feeling Cold all the Time

Nutritional deficiencies are quite common in the general population — and lacking certain vitamins or minerals is among numerous causes of feeling cold all the time. Some people have an unhealthy habit of skipping meals, which leads to specific nutritional deficiencies and the inability to keep oneself warm. A lack of calcium is known to be one of the causes that make people feel cold all the time.

An unhealthy or an imbalanced diet can also affect a person's response to cold. People who are underweight are usually prone to feeling cold all the time, in turn wrapping themselves in layers of extra clothing and shivering more often. Weight loss leads to an increased sensitivity to cold because the muscle mass and fat are known to keep a person cozy and warm by generating and retaining the body heat.

Hypothyroidism (a slow thyroid) may also be a cause of feeling cold all the time because in this condition, the thyroid gland does not synthesize hormones within the usual range and affected patients need to take certain medications in order to the treat or manage the condition properly.

It is not uncommon for those people who suffer from anemia to experience the feeling of being cold all the time as well. Anemia is a condition caused by a decrease in the number of healthy red blood cells in the human body, which are in charge of carrying oxygen to numerous tissues. A lack of oxygen is one potential trigger of feeling cold most of the time.

Raynaud’s disease is another condition commonly associated with feeling cold all the time and it is usually triggered by emotional stress or cold temperatures. Raynaud's disease is characterized by constricted blood vessels, impaired blood circulation and tingling sensations in the toes or fingers.

Finally, feeling cold all the time can also be triggered by certain hormonal imbalances. The levels of estrogen in female patients may fluctuate and cause increased sensitivity to cold. It is a lot more common for older people to feel cold all the time due to the fact that the natural process of aging makes the immune system weaker.

Additional Reasons Behind Feeling Cold all the Time

Basically, it is possible to feel cold all the time as a result of a sudden drop in temperature, when the body feels cold and directs most of the blood to vital organs, leaving the extremities with reduced blood supply. Yet, there are people who feel cold even when they are in warm places, indoors, feeling freezing once they step outside, their hands and feet being ice-cold. This can be a cause for concern, especially if warm socks and/or gloves fail to help.

Among many additional reasons stress is another explanation why some people feel cold all the time.

If the hands and feet are cold and blue or purple most of the time, cyanosis may be the cause. Namely, your skin turns blue or purple due to lack of oxygen in your blood. This indicates that you may be having heart or respiratory problems. Cyanosis is a serious condition and requires immediate medical assistance, especially when infants are concerned.

Alternatively, if coldness of the hands is accompanied by numbness, carpal tunnel syndrome may be the culprit. This condition takes place once the median nerve in our wrist gets pinched, resulting in pain and the above mentioned symptoms. It is common, for instance, in people who use computers all day.

Sometimes, the small arteries and veins in the hands and feet get inflamed, leading to Buerger's disease, and resulting in blue or purple hands and feet which are cold most of the time.

One of the worst case scenarios involves pulmonary edema, which is a life-threatening condition. Basically, in this condition the tissues in your lungs swell, slowing down your heart, triggering a decrease in blood supply to hands and feet.

Finally, smoking is known to cause a blood flow obstruction, leading to atherosclerosis and complications regarding blood circulation. As a result insufficient blood supply to peripheral tissues and organs is a reason why a smoker may frequently complain about feeling cold.

Possible Treatments for Cold Hands and Feet

First and foremost, people who feel cold all the time should seek medical treatment if the condition remains persistent, whether their feeling cold is limited to the hands on feet or occurs all over. Alternatively, keeping the hands and feet warm and avoiding caffeine as well as exposure to cold weather is important. Stretching these body parts often to stimulate the circulation, and keeping them in good shape, wiggling the toes and moving the fingers often helps quite a lot. People who feel cold all the time need to stop smoking and avoid wearing shoes which are too tight. Some people report that taking Gingo Biloba supplements helps a lot with cold hands and feet. All in all, once the underlying condition is identified and brought under control, persistent or recurrent feeling of being cold will soon subside.