To the point of trembling: what dangerous diseases does chills without fever indicate?

Surely every person has encountered people in their life who are constantly freezing. Even in the summer, when everyone around is trying to bare as much as possible so that it is not so hot, these men and women can wrap themselves up in woolen sweaters and wear thick trousers. Constant chills without fever is a feature that is most often inherent in girls and women of asthenic physique. However, sometimes strong representatives of the stronger sex, who at first glance are simply bursting with health, also suffer from chills.

Why does this happen? First of all, it should be noted that chills and weakness in themselves are not a disease - they are nothing more than symptoms. They may indicate that the patient has an endocrine or infectious disease, as well as a benign or malignant neoplasm in the body. In addition, chills often bother those people in whom an inflammatory process develops in the body, which is accompanied by suppuration.

Most common causes of chills

The first thought that appears in a person who notices a headache, chills and weakness is that he has an acute respiratory viral infection or the flu. The patient's body has to produce a large amount of heat, so in most cases the temperature rises in such patients. These symptoms may be accompanied by a runny nose, headache, aching bones and other signs of illness. Under no circumstances should you suffer from discomfort on your legs! Seek medical help and start treatment as soon as possible.

Often the feeling of cold in people with a hypersensitive nervous system is accompanied by severe anxiety. In addition, this may be a consequence of fright. This is a temporary symptom - as soon as a person manages to relax and calm down, he stops freezing. In many cases, chills without fever are a common companion for those people whose working blood pressure is below normal. In addition, in women, the cause of chills can be the first days of the menstrual cycle, as well as the beginning of pregnancy.

Often the cause of chills is all sorts of disturbances in the patient’s peripheral circulation. Especially many of these people live in regions where damp, cold weather is the norm. In such patients, the blood supply to the fingers of the upper and lower extremities is reduced. This can be visually determined by redness and swelling of the skin. Symptoms include severe itching.

People who have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus are familiar first-hand with the unpleasant sensations that accompany chills. In addition, this symptom may indicate that the patient has other types of endocrine diseases. For example, in patients with insufficient thyroid function, the following symptoms may be associated with chills and headaches:

• hair loss up to baldness;
• a sharp increase in body weight up to obesity;
• mood swings from complete euphoria to hysteria and depression;
• excessively dry skin on the face and body;
• weakness, drowsiness, decreased performance, etc.

The feeling of cold is associated with insufficient production of hormones by the gland, which results in impaired thermoregulation. In addition, similar symptoms are often observed in women aged 50 years and older. This is associated with menopause.

Finally, patients with VSD often suffer from chills and weakness. They can be cold even in July, when everyone is wearing light dresses, shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops. The fact is that people suffering from vegetative-vascular dystonia may have seriously impaired thermoregulation. Such patients need to visit saunas and baths more often, and also start each morning with a contrast shower. During the cold season, swimming in an ice hole can help them strengthen blood vessels and improve thermoregulation. Finally, a massage course conducted by a qualified specialist can play the role of an “ambulance” for such people and temporarily relieve them of chills.

Please note that the above methods of healing the body are not suitable for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Seven reasons why we are cold even in warm weather

Our body has a well-functioning and powerful thermostat - the hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature. When we are cold, heat production increases, and vice versa. But what if everyone around you has already replaced down jackets with thin jackets, and you continue to shiver from the cold and have no idea when you will finally warm up? Perhaps this hypersensitivity to low temperatures indicates health problems!

Thyroid dysfunction

The butterfly-shaped organ helps regulate metabolism. If the thyroid gland does not cope with its task, less thyroid hormones are produced, the metabolism slows down and we feel chills. This condition is called hypothyroidism. Along with the feeling of cold, it also has a number of other manifestations.

With hypofunction of the thyroid gland, the hair becomes coarse and dry, the skin begins to peel, and swelling of the face appears.

The heart rate may slow down, the functioning of the digestive tract may be disrupted, and problems with memory and concentration may arise. Women may experience irregularities in their menstrual cycle.

Anemia

If you have icy hands and feet all the time and sometimes feel like a real popsicle no matter how many sweaters you wear, you may be suffering from iron deficiency anemia. Its immediate cause is iron deficiency in the body. In this condition, the number and/or function of red blood cells, red blood cells, which, circulating in the bloodstream, carry oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues, decreases. Not receiving them in sufficient quantities, the body reacts with chills. In addition, iron deficiency can negatively affect the functioning of the thyroid gland, which leads to hypothyroidism, slower metabolism and, as a result, increased sensitivity to cold.

Along with chills, iron deficiency anemia has a number of other characteristic symptoms: fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath even with minor exertion, dizziness, and pallor.

Impaired blood circulation

Vascular problems that restrict blood flow to the extremities are another common cause of feeling cold all the time. This condition is called Raynaud's syndrome. People suffering from it develop spasm of the blood vessels in the hands in cold weather. They become pale or bluish and very cold. Sometimes spasm of the vessels of the nose or even the tongue occurs. This is accompanied by a feeling of cold, sometimes very painful. One or more fingers change color and cramps appear in them. These sensations usually last for a few minutes, but can persist for many hours.

Diabetes

Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism are a very serious disease that can remain undiagnosed for a long time. According to some reports, up to 50% of patients are not even aware that they have diabetes. At the same time, uncontrolled diabetes quickly leads to the development of complications, one of which is circulatory disorders. Blood circulates in the vessels more slowly than normal, which can cause a feeling of cold. Another common complication of diabetes is kidney damage - diabetic nephropathy. Constant chills, as well as decreased appetite and nausea are characteristic symptoms of this condition.

Low body weight

It's no secret that in pursuit of an ideal figure, dangers may await us, and one of them is too thin a fat layer. Our body simply does not have enough fat reserves to maintain a certain body temperature. When exposed to cold, the “built-in” climate control mechanisms fail to cope with this situation, and we lose heat. To understand that the constant feeling of cold is caused by too low body weight, you just need to step on the scale. If they show a number that is 15% or more below your ideal height, it's time to sound the alarm. Let us remind you that the optimal weight is calculated using the body mass index formula:

BMI = body weight (kg) / height2 (m)

BMI normally should be between 18 and 25 kg/m2.

Dehydration

On the one hand, it may seem that water is a way to cool down rather than warm up. However, in fact, water retains heat, which is subsequently released in small “portions”. And if you drink too little, it can be very difficult to stay warm. Solving this problem is as easy as shelling pears: drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and even more if you exercise, depending on your load and fluid loss.

Lack of sleep

Scientists still cannot accurately answer the question of how lack of sleep is related to the feeling of cold. Perhaps when we sleep too little, our hypothalamus, which is responsible for thermoregulation, does not work well enough, or perhaps the problem is caused by a slower metabolism, which causes less heat to be produced and blood circulation slows down. Be that as it may, if you sleep less than seven hours a night, don't be surprised that you find it difficult to part with a wool sweater even in the midst of spring.

As you can see, a constant feeling of cold can be a consequence of fairly innocent and easily solvable problems, or a sign of serious illness. If you're having trouble getting warm, answer a few questions. How long have you been cold? Is the problem getting worse recently? Do you have any other symptoms of ill health? And if the answers are positive, don’t hesitate: make an appointment with your doctor to identify the real cause of the chills and finally warm up.

Marina Pozdeeva, pharmacist, medical journalist
Photo depositphotos.com The author’s opinion may not coincide with the opinion of the editors

How to get rid of chills?

If chills are caused by the penetration of a viral infection into the body, then it is necessary to devote all efforts to treating the disease. Adhere to the treatment regimen prescribed by your doctor and follow all his recommendations. Bed rest in combination with taking pharmaceuticals, including antipyretics, gargling and drinking plenty of fluids will help get rid of all manifestations of the disease in a matter of days.

How to get rid of chills caused by any endocrine diseases? To do this, you need to see a doctor, undergo an examination and begin treatment for identified problems in the body under the strict guidance of a specialist. In our private clinic in Ryazan, the best endocrinologists of the city, as well as doctors of other specialties, see patients every day. The diagnostic department of ON CLINIC in Ryazan is equipped with the latest medical technology. Our examination will not take much time and will allow you to learn everything about how your body works!

If the cause of chills is being under stress or being very excited in anticipation of some event, then drinking hot tea, preferably herbal tea with lemon balm or chamomile, will help you relax, calm down and warm up. In addition, you can take a mild sedative, such as valerian. But do not overuse medications - consult a doctor and get examined! Based on its results, the doctor will prescribe you effective treatment.

Be that as it may, constant chills are not just a feature of the body, but rather a symptom that something is wrong in its functioning. Make an appointment with us, and our qualified specialists will be able to identify the cause of chills and eliminate it!

Causes of low temperature

• Exacerbation of chronic diseases, for example, vegetative-vascular dystonia.
• Insufficient production of thyroid hormones – hypothyroidism.
• Pathologies of the adrenal glands.
• Pregnancy.
• Taking certain medications, especially antipyretics and vasoconstrictors.
• Low blood pressure, heart disease.
• General fatigue, poor sleep, depression, stress.
• Recent viral or bacterial infections.
• Anemia.
• Fasting and strict diets that caused a lack of vitamins and nutrients.
• Sepsis.
• Skin diseases affecting large areas of the body.
• Poisoning with alcohol and drugs.
• Presence of HIV infection.

There are also external reasons for a decrease in body temperature - a long stay in water, in the wind, in a cold room with drafts, staying in the same position.

Diagnostics

There are many different diseases that may have chills without fever as a symptom. This means that before prescribing treatment, the causes of the pathological condition should be established.

Initially, a general and biochemical blood test is always performed. This will allow us to determine the presence of inflammatory and infectious processes in the human body, as well as assess the general condition. Other tests may be ordered to rule out various diseases. In particular, if there is suspicion:

• For cold infections, bacterial cultures from the nasopharynx.
• Sputum cultures for tuberculosis.
• Stool analysis for infections of the digestive system.
• PCR tests for viral infections.

Be sure to use other modern informative methods for diagnosis in case of complaints about the frequent occurrence of chills without fever:

• Ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland and abdominal organs.
• X-ray of the lungs and abdominal cavity.

If you experience chills without fever, you should definitely consult a neurologist. This will confirm or exclude disorders in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. To clarify the diagnosis, women should definitely undergo an examination in a gynecological office. To confirm your allergy, you will additionally need to visit an allergist and undergo the necessary testing.

Non-pathological reasons

The main cause of chills in women and men is hypothermia. This condition is a common occurrence during the cold season, when you have to stay outside for a long time without clothing suitable for the season. In this case, the intensity of the chill increases gradually. At first there is a feeling of cold, which causes a desire to warm up. If it is not possible to do this, then muscle tremors begin, which affects the whole body. In this way the body tries to warm up. After warming up, the symptom disappears. In severe cases, chills are accompanied by pale skin. Severe hypothermia may require medical attention.

Another common cause of chills without fever is severe stress associated with some kind of internal fear or sudden fright. This is explained by the fact that with increased psycho-emotional stress, adrenaline is released in large quantities. This substance leads to short-term vasospasm, against which muscle tremors appear. Additionally, you may experience a feeling of cold and increased sweating. For this reason, chills without fever in women occur more often, due to the characteristics of the nervous system. Once the condition has stabilized, the symptom disappears.

Also, in women, chills without fever may have other causes. It is often a symptom of menopause and occurs due to changes in hormonal levels. A feature of this condition is the alternation of a feeling of cold and trembling with a feeling of heat, increased sweating and redness of the face. Also, due to fluctuations in hormonal balance, chills without fever can occur during the premenstrual period and when carrying a child in the first trimester of pregnancy. In all of these cases, chills are a short-term phenomenon and have a significant impact on the general well-being of the woman.

What can you do before seeing a doctor?

Raising your body temperature must be done very carefully. A sudden change in thermal conditions can lead to serious consequences.

• If the cause of low body temperature is hypothermia, place the frozen person in a warm room, change him into dry clothes, cover him with a blanket and give him warm sweet tea.
• Hot baths, tea, and intense rubbing of body parts can be harmful. Drinking strong alcoholic drinks is also highly undesirable.
• A small child should be fed, given a warm drink, hugged and warmed with your own warmth.
• If you're just overtired, take a break from what you're doing. Take two or three days off: get enough sleep, take a bath, walk in the fresh air. After such a complete rest, normal body temperature will be restored naturally.

"Useful" temperature

Increased body temperature (fever) is one of the main symptoms of ARVI. Viruses and toxins that are formed during inflammation act on the thermoregulation center located in the brain. As a result, it switches to a different mode of operation, changing the functioning of the cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Metabolic processes are accelerated, and this is accompanied by the formation of a large amount of thermal energy. An increase in temperature is accompanied by chills, contraction of muscles and superficial vessels of the skin. Blood rushes into the body. This prevents the body from getting rid of excess heat and contributes to the development of fever2. Despite its clearly pathological nature, fever can be considered beneficial for the body. As the temperature rises, immunity strengthens and the activity of leukocytes – white blood cells that stand in the way of microbial aggression – increases. This helps the body fight infection3.

How to reduce a high temperature

7 tips on how to bring down a high fever with a cold or flu:

• the key to everything is sleep and rest;
• drink plenty of fluids - from 2 to 2.5 liters per day;
• choose light or blended food;
• take probiotics;
• don't wrap yourself in clothes.

The following recommendations are general and are not intended for a specific child. Only a doctor can give precise instructions with individual selection of treatment. Self-medication can lead to serious consequences. If a child has a high temperature that rises quickly, call your local pediatrician or an ambulance.

The pathogenetic mechanism of fever is closely related to inflammation. Therefore, anti-inflammatory drugs with an antipyretic (antipyretic) effect are used to lower the temperature. It should be remembered: treatment of fever is the elimination of the symptom, and not the treatment of the disease itself.

There are methods to physically lower body temperature, especially in children. These include: cold heating pads, cold enemas and wiping with cold water. However, it should be remembered that such methods do not have an evidence base. These methods are unsafe and are therefore excluded from protocols for the symptomatic treatment of fever.

The World Health Organization recommends two medications to treat fever: ibuprofen and paracetamol. WHO offers these drugs as the most studied, safe and effective. They rarely have side effects and have the least effect on the liver, so ibuprofen and paracetamol are indicated for children and adults.

How to reduce the temperature of an adult (one of the drugs):

• paracetamol – 650–1000 mg every 6 hours;
• ibuprofen – 400–600 mg every 6 hours.

In this case, the maximum daily dose should not exceed 4 g to avoid toxic manifestations. Take the tablets with plenty of warm water, do not dissolve or chew, or dissolve in water. It is best to take the tablets during or after meals. When taking paracetamol and ibuprofen, you should temporarily avoid other medications against influenza or other infections if they contain acetaminophen, aspirin, naproxen, or any other drug from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

How to bring down a child’s temperature (one of the drugs):

• paracetamol – a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight;
• ibuprofen - a single dose of 5-10 mg/kg body weight (for children over 3 months).

The next dose of one of the medications is after 4–5 hours. Taking the drug is considered effective if after 30 minutes the body temperature has dropped by 0.5–1 0C when measured in the armpit. Remember, you should not self-medicate. To accurately assess your child's condition and give him the right medications, you need to consult a doctor.

In children, fever can be malignant - this is called “pale” fever. It is accompanied by centralization of blood circulation, impaired microcirculation, deterioration of the child’s well-being, severe chills, cold feet and hands, and pale skin. In the case of pale fever, paracetamol or ibuprofen is administered intravenously at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight.

If there is no paracetamol or ibuprofen at home, you need to use “backup” therapy - a 50% analgin solution intramuscularly at a rate of 0.1 ml per 1 year of the child’s life. However, after administration of the medicine, side effects may occur: allergic reactions and changes in blood tests. However, before you administer analgin, call a doctor. He will assess the child’s condition and tell you exactly whether the medicine needs to be administered.

Due to excessive sweating, fever is accompanied by dehydration. Therefore, during a fever, you should drink a lot of mineral water, tea, fruit drinks, decoctions and juices. In addition, a large amount of fluid promotes detoxification - waste products of viruses or bacteria are eliminated from the body faster. With a fever, appetite decreases. However, you still need to eat. In this state, easily digestible carbohydrates are best: baked goods, sweet drinks, jam or cakes.

If overheating occurs due to sun or heatstroke, the patient must be taken away from the heat source and direct sunlight. The patient should be placed on a bed or sofa in a cool and ventilated room. Next, remove outer clothing and ensure adequate heat transfer. Spray a large amount of room temperature water on your face. Now that the person is safe, call an ambulance. Meanwhile, fan your body with a newspaper or towel, or turn on a fan.