Cold Tolerance – Why Are Some More Sensitive Than Others?

Cold tolerance is a tricky thing. Some people enjoy avant-garde swimming or are only able to stay in the frost with very light clothing. On the other hand, there are people who don’t want to leave their homes in the winter. These people cannot tolerate the cold. What makes some people more sensitive to the cold?

Every person has a greater or lesser sensitivity to changes in temperature. However, cold hypersensitivity can also be a symptom of the disease.

Certain factors increase cold intolerance, such as low body fat or a chronic health problem. Today’s article talks more about cold tolerance and its causes, as well as diagnostics.

Cold Tolerance – Why Are Some People More Sensitive To Low Temperatures Than Others?

This kind of cold intolerance, where a person is simply unable to be outside in cold weather, is usually a symptom of something. One of the most common causes is low body fat, as mentioned above.

This is because fat is an insulator that allows us to maintain body heat. Women tend to be more sensitive to the cold because women tend to be slimmer than men.

Hormonal changes at certain stages of life can also trigger this problem, especially during menopause. You’ve probably heard of hot flashes, but increased sensitivity to temperature changes is common in one direction if not the other.

In addition, it can be a sign of an infection, such as a cold or flu. The same goes for metabolic problems. The body produces less body heat in the absence of thyroid hormones in people with hypothyroidism.

Other conditions leading to cold intolerance

Anemia is a disease in which red blood cells change. This may be due to a lack of hemoglobin, a substance responsible for transporting oxygen, or a decrease in the number of red blood cells or because they are abnormal.

The symptoms of anemia vary and are for the most part nonspecific. People who suffer from this disease tend to be tired and often feel unwell. A person with anemia may have very low levels of cold tolerance. In this case, the symptom is due to a circulatory problem caused by anemia.

Vascular and circulatory problems are also associated with other diseases, including Raynaud’s syndrome. This is a disorder in which blood vessels narrow abnormally in response to certain stimuli, such as cold or stress.

Cold intolerance can be caused by a chronic disease known as fibromyalgia. People with this condition experience generalized muscle and bone pain, often associated with hypersensitivity. Its prevalence is much higher in women.

In this disease, there are no signs of damage in the body, but the pain caused by the syndrome is crippling. This is because a person cannot escape pain and a feeling of discomfort, thus it also affects psychological well-being.

Finally, note that while it is rare, the cause of cold intolerance may be in the hypothalamus. It is an area of ​​the brain that regulates body temperature. For this reason, all the diseases that affect it can also change the regulation of temperature.

How is this problem diagnosed?

An extensive physical examination should be performed by a physician to diagnose the cause of low cold tolerance. First, a person’s weight and body fat index are likely to be checked  , and blood tests are also done.

These tests reveal thyroid hormone levels and determine if a person has anemia or other disease. Professionals are also likely to do other tests to rule out some of the more serious diseases, such as hypothalamic disorder.

If you suffer from long-term cold intolerance, you should consult a doctor. This is because it can be a symptom of an illness. It is better to check your health and get peace of mind than to suffer from a latent illness that can have serious consequences.