Why there is a chill and what to do with it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If you feel shivering, make sure it's not fatal.

Chills are a physiological reaction of the body to a spasm of superficial blood vessels. Most often, minor shivers are caused by cold. Chills, however, have far more unpleasant causes.

Why is there a chill at a temperature

After hypothermia, the most common cause of chills is fever. Doctors define Fever in Adults this condition as an increase in temperature to 37, 7 ° C and above.

Fever itself can be a symptom of a huge number of diseases, including bacterial infections and all kinds of inflammatory processes in the internal organs. However, most often we encounter it when we fall ill with ARVI or the flu.

The mechanism of chills with fever is simple. Trying to fight off an infection, the body raises the temperature - this is detrimental to many viruses and bacteria. To speed up the warm-up and keep the heat inside, the superficial blood vessels spasm and tremors are triggered. Therefore, when the temperature rises rapidly, the person looks pale and desperately shivers.

Why there are chills without fever

1. Cold

It is the cold that makes the vessels contract in order to keep the heat inside the body. The body responds by intensely contracting and relaxing muscles to keep warm.

To start chilling, it is not necessary to jump out into the cold half-dressed. A sharp change in temperature is enough (for example, when you enter a room with an air conditioner from a hot street) or a slight gust of wind when you are wearing wet clothes.

2. Taking medications

Some drugs, including over-the-counter drugs, cause excessive sweating and chills. These side effects are described in the instructions for use.

Also, a combination of drugs or an overdose can provoke tremors.

By the way, for this reason, elderly people often shiver. They take an impressive array of all sorts of drugs without really reading the instructions.

3. Extreme physical activity

When you run a marathon, swim a kilometer, or somehow give your best, muscles release What Effect Does Exercise Have on Your Body Temperature? a lot of warmth. Because of this, the body heats up and begins to cool down through sweating.

The temperature difference between the skin and the surrounding air often causes chills. Most often, athletes shiver on too hot (when the body is sweating actively) or too cold days.

4. Endocrine disorders

Constant coldness and associated chills are common symptoms of Why Am I Cold? hypothyroidism (decreased production of thyroid hormones). Due to a lack of hormones, the body cannot effectively regulate temperature. Therefore, it tries to trap heat by spasming the subcutaneous blood vessels and triggering shivers.

5. Menstruation and menopause

In these situations, significant fluctuations in hormonal levels also occur.

6. Hypoglycemia

This is the name given to a sharp drop in blood sugar levels. It can occur for various reasons. For example, you have overexerted yourself physically or mentally. Or you’re on a diet that is too strict and your body lacks glucose. Or you have diabetes, but your doctor has missed your medication dosage.

With hypoglycemia, we experience acute weakness, including muscle weakness. Exhausted muscles begin to tremble finely, chills appear.

Hypoglycemia is a dangerous condition. If the blood sugar continues to fall, it can lead to damage to the nervous system, including epileptic seizures, loss of consciousness and coma.

7. Malnutrition

Its effect is the same as that of hypoglycemia. But in this case, muscle weakness is caused not only by a lack of glucose in the blood, but also other nutrients.

If you regularly feel chills due to diet or weight loss, be sure to see your doctor. After all, chills are followed by a breakdown, hair loss, inability to conceive, insomnia, depression and even anorexia, which can be fatal. You need to normalize your diet as soon as possible.

8. Stress and emotional stress

Stress increases adrenaline levels. Among other things, this hormone causes a spasm of superficial vessels and, as a result, tremors. That is why people are “shaken” when they are angry or very worried.

How to treat chills

Given the variety of reasons, there is no general treatment algorithm. It is necessary to act depending on the situation:

• If you are cold, drink hot tea, try to warm up and relax. This will relieve the spasm.
• If the chills arose against the background of an infectious disease and a rise in temperature, consult a physician and follow his recommendations.
• If you are overstrained physically or emotionally, allow yourself a few minutes of relaxation: take a breath, calm down.
• If you have chills regularly, see your doctor to rule out hormonal imbalances, developing diabetes, or nutritional deficiencies.