QuestionHi!
I have a weird question for you! This has been in the back of my mind for a long time and it's time to try and find some answers!
My problem is that I am always cold. I think I have been like this for years, since I was a teenager (I'm 30 now). I live in Southern CA, I've lived here my whole life....in the summer it gets into the 90s, sometimes 100s and I'm NEVER hot. I keep my apartment thermostat at 87 degrees and I still wear a sweatshirt and slippers. I have the heat on in my car all the time. I'm just always always cold, no matter what the temerature is. It's very weird.
I went in snow once, skiing with my friends, and I had to sit the whole trip out because even though I had 9 layers of clothes on (no kidding) I was so cold that my face, hands and feet went numb and it was the only time in my life that I seriously thought I might die, I was so cold.
On the other hand, I just took a long weekend in Palm Springs desert last month...it was 120 degrees and it was the first time in my life that I was actually comfortable and not cold! But when it got down to 99 at night, I had to go inside because it got chilly!
Anyway, now that I've told you my life story :) I'm wondering why I'm ALWAYS cold. Is it just normal for me?
I'm very healthy - I work in the fitness industry so I'm very fit - I'm 5'8 and weigh 148 pounds. I have no medical conditions, I take good care of my health. My blood pressure is always around 106/68 and my cholesterol is always around 125-130. You should know that I am a vegetarian....I have not had meat (no beef, chicken or fish) for 16 years. I do eat dairy though....cheese, milk, yogurt and egg whites. And I take a multivitamin every day.
Any insight into this? Just wondering if there's something I can do or if it's just how I am?
Thanks!
Erin :)
AnswerErin,
Are you speaking of a subjective feeling of being "cold" or are you actually cooler than the average person. Have you measured your core body temperature? By oral or rectal thermometer? The thyroid hormone can sometime be out of balance and with hypothyroidism cause someone to always be cold intolerant. That is one thing I would investigate. If everything is normal maybe it is just the way your hypothalamus is set (temperature control center in your brain).
JP Saleeby, MD
www.docsaleeby.blogspot.com
