Why Do Some People Feel Colder Than Others?
Everyone’s body has a slightly different reaction to cold and some people feel cold more often than others, which is known as cold intolerance. While our core temperature should ideally not change, our perception of whether we find somewhere warm or cool is very individual and usually comes down to our skin temperature. This is what gives our body feedback, and lots of things can affect that from the clothes that we are wearing to the activities we are doing. The wind and dampness of the environment, however, are also factors and there are genetic and personal factors that can mean that two people, wearing the same thing, in the same environment feel different temperatures.
Here are a few things that contribute to this, including:
- Overall body size. This can impact how cold you feel because smaller people have less cells in their body that produce heat
- People with higher levels of body fat and/or muscle mass have more insulation and a higher resting metabolic rate so burn energy faster
- Being active not only warms the body immediately but can have a long-term effect on temperature regulation
- Older people also tend to have a slower resting metabolic rate, so may feel the cold more
These factors do mean that gender is a big divider, as women are generally smaller than men and carry less muscle mass. We’ve all fought over the thermostat in the office and I am sure at home there are disagreements over the central heating and/or air conditioning as well, but the fact is that the temperature deemed comfortable for most people is meant to be about 69.8 degrees Fahrenheit which is 21 degrees Celsius. Actually, that’s ideal for a man in a suit, but women generally do better with a little higher temperature.
Interestingly, we feel this disparity internally too. “Estrogen and progesterone, which change throughout the women’s menstrual cycle affects how quickly our blood vessels constrict to the cold. This means that depending on what part of the menstrual cycle you’re in, you might find your hands and feet get colder, affecting your overall temperature perception. In addition, your temperature perception can change throughout the day; for instance, at six o’clock in the morning your core temperature is at its lowest, and from midday to mid-afternoon, it’s at its highest.
Why Do My Hands Feel Cold?
There is no reason to panic if you have hands like ice cubes on a summer’s day. It is a very typical thing, particularly for women, as our hands are good for regulation. Our hands have a large surface area but a small volume and are filled with lots of blood vessels very close to the surface of the skin. They’re very good for losing heat and so therefore, when you’re slightly cool, the blood flow shuts down.
While “peripheral temperature is generally nothing to worry about”, it can be a sign of Raynaud’s syndrome, an extreme response to cold or stress where arteries narrow to the point that fingers and toes turn white or blue and feel cold and numb – but circulation returns to normal when warm again.
Is It Bad to Be Cold All the Time?
Generally, being cold simply comes down to our body type, and as long as we take precautions it’s not a bad thing. On the other hand, if constant coldness is mixed with other symptoms it could be a sign of something more serious. For example, coldness paired with tiredness or dizziness could be a symptom of an iron or B12 deficiency, or even anemia. Constantly being cold coupled with hair loss, a change in your digestive system and weight gain could also be a sign of a low thyroid – when the gland stops producing enough thyroxine (a hormone which regulates your metabolism).
Ultimately, your body is generally pretty good at regulating itself, so trust what it’s telling you. Our behavior is the most important thing when it comes to keeping warm. Quite often we underestimate the weather so the best advice is to be prepared, especially if you know your body’s tendencies to be cold.
