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Nov 19, 2023 · Chills: A walk down a cold, windy street can send a shivery tingle up & down your body, but so can some other health conditions. Find out what causes the chills & what you can do about it.
- Overview
- Exposure to cold
- Medication side effect
- Reaction to extreme physical activity
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- Hypoglycemia
- Malnutrition
- Emotional reaction
- When should I be concerned about chills?
- Home remedies
You may experience chills without fever due to exposure to cold temperatures, intense exercise, or certain health conditions. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Chills (shivering) are caused by rapid alternation between muscle contractions and relaxation. These muscle contractions are how your body tries to warm itself up when cold.
Chills are often, though not always, associated with fever. Sometimes, they precede the onset of fever, especially if an infection causes the fever. Other times, they occur without a spike in temperature. Chills may or may not be serious, depending on the underlying cause.
Several conditions can cause chills without fever.
You may experience chills in a cold place, such as the ocean or a pool, or outside on a chilly day. You can also get chills if your clothing becomes damp or wet. You can get chills indoors, too, if the air-conditioning is set too cold or the heat isn’t hot enough.
As the human body ages, it is more difficult to regulate body temperature, even in healthy older adults. Medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease can also affect your body temperature in the cold.
These types of chills should dissipate as soon as your body warms up. However, if you experience continual shaking after exposure to intense cold, you may have developed complications such as hypothermia or frostbite, which are both potentially serious.
Other symptoms of these conditions can include:
•numbness
•changes in skin color
Chills without fever may result from taking certain medications or combinations of medications. They may also occur if you take the incorrect dosage of:
•over-the-counter (OTC) medications
•supplements
•prescription drugs
Marathon running or other extreme sports requiring intense physical exertion may cause changes in your core body temperature. That can result in chills.
This response can happen in any weather but may be more likely in very cold or hot temperatures:
•In hot temperatures, heat exhaustion and dehydration may cause this reaction.
•In cold temperatures, hypothermia and dehydration may be the cause.
In both instances, other symptoms you might experience include:
•goosebumps
An underactive thyroid is a thyroid gland that doesn’t produce enough of the hormones needed to regulate metabolic rate or support overall health. This condition can cause an increased sensitivity to cold, resulting in chills.
Additional symptoms associated with hypothyroidism include:
•puffiness in the face
•unexplained weight gain
•dry skin, nails, and hair
•muscle weakness, pain, or stiffness
Hypoglycemia occurs if blood sugar levels dip abnormally low. If you have diabetes, it may be a sign that your medication or diet needs to be adjusted. It’s also possible to experience hypoglycemia without diabetes.
Hypoglycemia requires immediate treatment to get blood sugar levels back to healthy levels. One of the symptoms of hypoglycemia is a feeling of shakiness or muscle weakness, which may mimic chills. Other symptoms of this condition include:
•sweating
•irritability
•heart palpitations
•tingling feelings around the mouth
Malnutrition occurs when your body lacks the necessary nutrients. This can happen because of:
•poor access to nutritious foods
•an underlying condition like celiac disease that affects your body’s ability to absorb nutrients properly
•an eating disorder, like anorexia nervosa
Without the correct balance of nutrients, your body can’t function properly.
Other symptoms of malnutrition include:
Chills can occur if you have a profound or intense emotional reaction to a situation. Emotions that might cause chills include fear or anxiety.
Chills can also be caused by experiences that move you deeply in a positive way, such as listening to music or inspirational words. You may also experience them due to ASMR.
Chills without fever can become serious if you’re experiencing frostbite or hypothermia. These conditions can quickly become a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention or care.
Other conditions that cause chills, such as hypothyroidism, require medical support but may not warrant a visit to the emergency room. If you have the symptoms of this thyroid condition, you may want to make an appointment to see a doctor and ask about getting a diagnostic blood test.
If you have diabetes and your chills are caused by hypoglycemia, take a glucose tablet if you have one. You can also quickly raise your blood sugar by drinking something like orange juice or eating a piece of candy.
If your chills are caused by extreme cold, get yourself dry if you are wet. Layer up and make sure to cover your head, hands, and feet so that you can capture and maintain as much body heat as possible.
- Corey Whelan
Feb 5, 2024 · 10 Potential Reasons For Chills Without Fever. 1. Medication Side Effects. “There are tons of medications that may cause side effects of chills, and there are several combinations of drugs that ...
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Aug 31, 2024 · Chills are the shaking, shivering, trembling, and cold feeling you get when your core body temperature drops. Chills can be uncomfortable, but they help raise your core temperature back to a healthy range. When you have chills, your muscles rapidly relax and contract in response to causes like cold temperatures, viruses, or infections.
Sep 26, 2023 · Body aches are typically due to inflammation (swelling) or muscle tension. Chills (shivering) are how the body warms itself up. They are the result of the muscles rapidly contracting and relaxing. Having body aches and chills without a fever can occur for multiple reasons, including: Cold weather. Stress.
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Jun 3, 2024 · Underactive Thyroid. The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. It puts out hormones to help control how your body uses energy. You might have a condition called hypothyroidism if ...
