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What Causes Constant Low Body Temperature?
Question: I seem to be cold all the time
Brief Answer:
Information about causes of coldness:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If feeling cold all the time, when others are not cold, has been going on for more than a few weeks, it is time to see your doctor to have an evaluation for this.
Feeling cold can be caused by a number of different, unrelated causes.
One cause is an under active thyroid gland. This can be tested with blood tests for thyroid function: TSH and thyroxine levels. If these are abnormal, supplemental thyroid medicine can make you feel better.
Another cause is anemia. Your doctor can order a blood test for your hemoglobin and hematocrit levels to check for anemia (a CBC). If there is anemia from suspected blood loss (such as in the digestive tract), then the doctor will look into that. More common is iron deficiency anemia which can be helped with supplemental iron. But best not to take this until you have been evaluated.
Your doctor should also check for diabetes with either a fasting blood sugar test or a test called A1C which shows how your sugars have been on average over the last couple months.
Being very thin or having lost a lot of weight can make a person colder.
And finally, problems with the blood vessels can contribute to this. A history (such as whether you have ever had Raynaud's) and exam can help sort this out.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information about causes of coldness:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If feeling cold all the time, when others are not cold, has been going on for more than a few weeks, it is time to see your doctor to have an evaluation for this.
Feeling cold can be caused by a number of different, unrelated causes.
One cause is an under active thyroid gland. This can be tested with blood tests for thyroid function: TSH and thyroxine levels. If these are abnormal, supplemental thyroid medicine can make you feel better.
Another cause is anemia. Your doctor can order a blood test for your hemoglobin and hematocrit levels to check for anemia (a CBC). If there is anemia from suspected blood loss (such as in the digestive tract), then the doctor will look into that. More common is iron deficiency anemia which can be helped with supplemental iron. But best not to take this until you have been evaluated.
Your doctor should also check for diabetes with either a fasting blood sugar test or a test called A1C which shows how your sugars have been on average over the last couple months.
Being very thin or having lost a lot of weight can make a person colder.
And finally, problems with the blood vessels can contribute to this. A history (such as whether you have ever had Raynaud's) and exam can help sort this out.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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