Having little brown fat makes you more sensitive to the cold
Just as some people can tolerate heat better than others, sensitivity to cold is also a matter of individual variability. While the environment may play a role - Canadians accustomed to extreme temperatures are probably less sensitive to the cold than people living in the Overseas Territories, the cause is mostly to be found in the brown fat (a type of adipose tissue) involved in the body's thermoregulation.
Unlike white fat, which stores nutrients, brown fat helps the body to fight against the cold. This adipose tissue is present at all ages of life, including in infants (in babies, this fat is located in the small folds of the body). People who have little brown fat, for example, people who are thin, will be less able to regulate their temperature less easily and will therefore be more sensitive to the cold.
A sign of hypothyroidism?
Since thyroid hormones are involved in the regulation of basic metabolism, hypothyroidism results in a whole range of reactions in terms of weight regulation, transit, mood, and also the feeling of cold. "Thus, coldness is one of the main symptoms of hypothyroidism," Dr. Flo reminds us.
Dehydration and undernutrition
If there is a lack of fuel and raw materials (mainly provided by proteins), the body cannot function properly. Certain mechanisms, such as thermoregulation, are then less efficient. "That's why people who are anorexic, dehydrated, or suffer from undernutrition are more prone to cold," adds the general practitioner. Composed of more than 60% water, the body is also more sensitive to extreme temperatures when it is dehydrated.
Anemia (a lack of iron)
Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen into the bloodstream, allowing the blood to retain body heat. In the case of iron deficiency (anemia), the feeling of cold is also more pronounced.
Cold and Fatigue
Everybody has experienced it: after a short night, or even a sleepless night, we tend to get cold, regardless of the temperature outside. Here again, it is a failure of the thermoregulation mechanism, orchestrated by the hypothalamus. Under the effect of lack of sleep, the brain functions less well and certain mechanisms can be altered (it is also the case of alertness, sight...).
Hormonal variations of pregnancy
Hormonal changes during pregnancy (also during menopause) influence the basic metabolism and the thermoregulation mechanism. In pregnant women, when it is cold, the body makes sure that the fetus retains heat first and foremost in order to keep it at the right temperature, while other parts of the body (such as the hands and feet) are peripheral.
Circulatory and vascular problems
When outside temperatures drop, the body sets up a thermoregulation system that favors temperature conservation to the benefit of the vital organs (heart and brain) and to the detriment of the extremities (hands and feet). If this phenomenon is normal, people suffering from circulatory disorders or Raynaud's disease are all the more affected by these inconveniences than others.
Diabetes
In the advanced form, diabetes can result in neuropathies (nerve damage) that can cause tingling, pain, and a feeling of cold.
Some medications
Finally, the side effects of some medications can lead to increased sensitivity to cold. This is the case with certain antihypertensive, neuroleptic or psychotropic drugs, for example.
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