What health issues can make you feel cold? A comprehensive guide

September 23, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a study, a significant number of people who consistently feel cold have an underlying medical condition. If you're often asking, "What health issues can make you feel cold?", it's crucial to understand the potential reasons behind your persistent chill.

Quick Summary

Persistent coldness can stem from conditions affecting your metabolism, blood flow, or nerve function, including hypothyroidism, anemia, and diabetes. Other causes may relate to nutritional deficiencies or circulatory problems, each requiring a proper diagnosis from a healthcare professional.

Key Points

Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid gland slows metabolism, leading to a constant cold sensation.
Anemia: A deficiency in iron or vitamin B12 can cause anemia, reducing red blood cells and impairing oxygen transport.
Poor Circulation: Conditions like Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and Raynaud's phenomenon restrict blood flow, especially to the hands and feet.
Diabetes and Neuropathy: Nerve damage from unmanaged diabetes can affect temperature sensation in the extremities.
Low Body Weight: Insufficient body fat for insulation can make individuals more sensitive to cold temperatures.
Dehydration: Proper hydration is crucial for regulating body temperature, and dehydration can interfere with this process.
When to See a Doctor: Persistent or unexplained coldness, particularly when accompanied by other symptoms, warrants a medical evaluation for proper diagnosis.

Introduction to Feeling Cold

While a chilly environment is the most obvious reason for feeling cold, persistent or unusual coldness can often be a signal from your body that something is amiss internally. It's a symptom that can indicate a variety of health issues, from common deficiencies to more serious chronic conditions. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding a solution and improving your overall comfort and health.

Hormonal Imbalances and Your Metabolism

Your body's temperature is largely regulated by hormones. When this system is imbalanced, it can disrupt your internal thermostat.

Hypothyroidism

One of the most common hormonal culprits is hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid gland. The thyroid is responsible for producing hormones that control your metabolism. When it slows down, your body generates less heat, leading to a constant cold sensation. Other symptoms often include fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, and depression.

Diabetes

Poorly managed diabetes can lead to nerve damage, a condition known as neuropathy. This damage can interfere with the nerves that control sensation, including temperature, making your feet and hands feel cold, even when they're not.

Issues with Blood Circulation

Efficient blood flow is essential for distributing warmth throughout your body. Problems with your circulatory system can leave your extremities feeling perpetually cold.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

PAD occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs. This blockage, caused by plaque buildup, means your hands and feet don't receive enough warm blood, resulting in a cold, numb, or tingling sensation.

Raynaud's Phenomenon

This condition causes blood vessels in your fingers and toes to narrow in response to cold or stress. During an episode, the affected areas may turn white or blue, feel cold, and become numb.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Nutrients play a vital role in blood production and overall metabolic health. A lack of certain vitamins and minerals can have a direct impact on your body temperature.

Anemia

Anemia is a condition where you don't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen. The most common cause is an iron deficiency, but a lack of vitamin B12 can also lead to anemia. Without enough oxygen being transported to your tissues, you can experience coldness, along with fatigue and weakness.

Other Vitamin Deficiencies

Beyond iron and B12, deficiencies in other nutrients can also affect temperature regulation. Vitamin D and magnesium are also important for metabolic functions that support your body's warmth.

Body Composition and Eating Disorders

Your body's natural insulation, or lack thereof, can significantly influence how cold you feel.

Low Body Weight

Individuals with a low body mass index (BMI) have less body fat to insulate them from cold temperatures. For those who are naturally thin or follow a calorie-restricted diet, this can lead to a heightened sensitivity to cold.

Anorexia Nervosa

This eating disorder is characterized by extreme food restriction and can cause a dangerously low body weight. The resulting low body fat and reduced metabolic rate severely impair the body's ability to maintain a healthy core temperature, leading to constant cold intolerance.

Other Health Conditions and Lifestyle Factors

Sometimes, the cause is less obvious but just as impactful.

Fibromyalgia

This chronic disorder causes widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues. Many individuals with fibromyalgia also experience a heightened sensitivity to both cold and heat due to the central nervous system's inability to process signals properly.

Lack of Sleep

Chronic sleep deprivation can disrupt your body's internal temperature regulation. Inadequate sleep can affect blood flow patterns, making you feel colder during the day.

Dehydration

Water is crucial for regulating body temperature. When you're dehydrated, your metabolism can slow down, and your body can't generate enough energy and heat to keep you warm.

When to Seek Medical Advice

If you experience persistent coldness that is new or accompanied by other symptoms like fatigue, weight changes, or skin issues, it is important to consult a healthcare provider. They can perform diagnostic tests, such as blood work, to determine if an underlying condition is the cause.

Conclusion

Feeling cold constantly is not always a simple matter of needing an extra layer. Numerous health issues, ranging from hormonal and circulatory problems to nutritional deficiencies and metabolic disorders, can be the cause. By understanding what health issues can make you feel cold, you can take informed steps towards a diagnosis and effective management. Recognizing the signs and seeking professional advice is the key to addressing the discomfort and improving your health. For further information on these conditions, consult authoritative health websites such as the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) for reputable, in-depth resources. NIDDK website.

Comparison of Common Causes of Cold Sensitivity


Cause	Mechanism	Additional Symptoms	Diagnostic Approach
Hypothyroidism	Slowed metabolism due to underactive thyroid.	Fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, depression.	Blood test for thyroid hormones.
Iron Deficiency Anemia	Reduced oxygen-carrying red blood cells.	Fatigue, pale skin, weakness, dizziness.	Blood test for complete blood count (CBC) and iron levels.
Raynaud's Phenomenon	Constriction of small blood vessels in extremities.	Color changes in fingers/toes, numbness, pain.	Clinical diagnosis based on symptoms and physical exam.
Peripheral Artery Disease	Narrowed arteries reducing blood flow to limbs.	Coldness/numbness in feet, pain in legs.	Ankle-brachial index (ABI) test, ultrasound.
Diabetes (Neuropathy)	Nerve damage from high blood sugar.	Tingling, numbness, or burning sensations in extremities.	Nerve function tests, blood sugar monitoring.
Anorexia Nervosa	Extremely low body weight, lack of insulation.	Fatigue, hair loss, irregular periods, distorted body image.	Medical history, physical and psychological evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, low iron is a common cause of anemia, which results in fewer oxygen-carrying red blood cells. This can disrupt your body's ability to maintain a normal temperature, making you feel cold.

Feeling cold without a fever can point to a number of non-infectious causes, such as hypothyroidism, poor circulation, anemia, or other metabolic issues, rather than an active infection.

Deficiencies in vitamin B12 and iron are most directly linked to cold sensitivity because they are crucial for producing healthy red blood cells and preventing anemia.

Yes, low blood pressure can lead to reduced blood flow, especially to your hands and feet. This can cause you to feel cold and may sometimes be associated with dizziness or fatigue.

The "fight or flight" response triggered by anxiety or stress can cause blood vessels to constrict, redirecting blood flow toward vital organs and away from the extremities, resulting in a cold sensation.

Constantly cold hands and feet often indicate poor circulation, which can be caused by conditions like Raynaud's phenomenon, Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), or even smoking.

While it can be caused by less serious factors like low body weight, a new or worsening intolerance to cold can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. It's best to consult a doctor to rule out any serious issues.

Yes. When you are dehydrated, your body's ability to regulate its temperature is compromised. Water helps maintain your metabolism, and a lack of it can slow down your body's energy and heat production.