In fact, there is evidence from a large study involving twins to suggest that cold fingers and toes are, in part, determined by our genes. Fluctuations in hormones also contribute to how we feel the cold. Women's responses to cold vary during their menstrual cycles.
And the reason for this may be in a person's genes. Our new research shows that a common genetic variant in the skeletal muscle gene, ACTN3, makes people more resilient to cold temperatures. Around one in five people lack a muscle protein called alpha-actinin-3 due to a single genetic change in the ACTN3 gene.
People lacking the alpha-actinin-3 protein in their muscle fibers can tolerate the cold better compared to those who do not carry this gene variant. The scientists then started studying a variation in ACTN3, ultimately discovering it is absent in roughly 1.5 billion people.
It is generally observed that women have a lower metabolic rate. Because of this, women generally feel colder than men. Some people who have more fat deposition under their skin are protected from cold better than those who don't. People who have weak constitutions are also more prone to feeling cold.
Hypothyroidism
“This is one of the most common reasons people always feel cold,” Abokede said. “The thyroid drives metabolism. With a low-functioning thyroid gland, metabolism is slowed and the body can't generate an adequate amount of heat to maintain core body temperature.”
But some healthy people can feel colder than do others in the same environment. Women often report that they feel colder than men in the same environment. This is probably because they have a lower skin temperature, a consequence of more subcutaneous fat and the hormone oestrogen.
Can low vitamin D cause you to feel cold? Instead, vitamin D deficiencies typically result in rickets and other bone deficiencies. [10] While these conditions can lead to feelings of coldness, they don't seem to play as direct a role in thermoregulation as the B vitamins.
Lack of vitamin B12 and iron deficiency can cause anemia and lead you to feel cold. Good sources of B12 are chicken, eggs and fish, and people with iron deficiency may want to seek out poultry, pork, fish, peas, soybeans, chickpeas and dark green leafy vegetables.
Native Americans, Inuit and some Siberians can handle the cold better, thanks to their ancient human ancestors. Weather forecasters predict that temperatures will be several degrees below freezing in the capital city of Greenland, Nuuk, for the rest of this year.
Both fat and muscle mass help keep the body warm. Muscle activity generates heat, and fat acts as insulation. If you have lost significant weight recently or have always been thin, you might be more sensitive to colder temperatures.
If you just can't warm up, it could be a sign that you need to drink more water. "Up to 60% of the adult human body is water, and water helps regulate body temperature," Moon said. "If you're adequately hydrated, water will trap heat and release it slowly, keeping your body temperature in a comfortable zone.
Cold intolerance can be a symptom of a problem with metabolism. Some people (often very thin women) do not tolerate cold temperatures because they have very little body fat to help keep them warm.
Our circulation decreases as we age due to the walls of our blood vessels naturally losing their elasticity. When blood moves slower through our bodies, our extremities are colder and get cold faster. Another possible cause of feeling colder as we age is the thinning fat layer under our skin that conserves heat.
Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome is an autosomal dominant inherited inflammatory disease characterized by episodes of rash, fever, and joint pain following generalized exposure to cold. Attacks usually occur 1–2 hours after exposure and last less than 24 hours.
2. Feeling cold. Cold hands and feet can be a result of iron deficiency anemia. People with anemia have poor blood circulation throughout their bodies because they don't have enough red blood cells to provide oxygen to their tissue.
There are a few different types of anemia, but the main result of each is the same: A drop in red blood cells. That drop also means your body isn't getting its necessary amount of oxygen, which results in that chilly feeling. “When you're lacking oxygen, you get that cold feeling and fatigue,” says Dr. Morgan.
Some people naturally tend to feel colder than others without any discernible cause. However, cold intolerance can also indicate an underlying medical condition, such as hypothyroidism, anemia, or peripheral artery disease.
Even when bodies are the same size, the amount of body fat inside can vary — and affect how cold or hot we feel in comparison to others. The greater the amount of body fat, the warmer one feels. Older people often might feel colder than younger people, as the fat layer under the skin that conserves heat thins with age.
Having a low muscle mass can make it harder for you to get warm because your body doesn't have as much extra energy to use. Having a cold environment can also make you cold all the time. If there is less warmth in the air, your body will try to conserve energy by keeping its temperature down.
When circulation is hindered, blood is restricted from reaching the parts of the body farthest from the heart, like the nose, toes, and hands, resulting in coldness. To increase blood circulation, try light exercise, wearing compression socks, and massage (putting on more layers helps, too, of course).
Your house and attic insulation can wear down over time. Your house also may have hidden attics that aren't properly insulated or uninsulated garage walls that are attached to your home, and this can cause problems with heat escape, unwanted airflow, and drafts.