Constant freezing and tiredness: what your body wants to tell you

Especially in the colder months it is often a constant companion: the freezing. The hands are cold, the feet as well and you would like to hide all day under the cozy duvet. Presumably you know that too and depending on the type (more on that later) this can be quite normal.

However, if the freezing occurs together with fatigue or constant sluggishness, this may indicate possible diseases or deficits in the body. So why are we freezing and what are possible causes?

Why are we freezing in the first place?

First of all, freezing is basically a useful process.

Excuse me? How can the annoying frying help me?

Well, the temperature is (over)vital for our body. Every person therefore has heat and cold receptors in the skin. Through you, our brain constantly checks the outside temperature and checks whether it fits our organism.

When the receptors detect a temperature that is too low, they send signals to the brain and that sends the message: generate heat, save energy and focus all functions on the vital organs!

This message puts our bodies in a kind of“energy-saving mode”that we perceive as freezing.

The state of freezing causes less warming blood to flow into our outer extremities. The body focuses on blooding the vital organs. First, you notice this on a cold nose or cold ears, hands and feet. Furthermore, you start to tremble, which is supposed to generate more heat. Fatigue can also be a consequence.

Why do I freeze while my colleague is sitting in a T-shirt and shorts?

The individual feeling of warmth or cold depends on many factors. For example, a person’s muscleand adipose tissue plays a role. But the genes also come into play: the distribution of cold receptors on the skin is primarily genetic.
Psychologyis also crucial: people who have lived in warm regions for a long time and move to the cold north need some time to get used to the temperatures.

Are you sensitive to cold? So it depends primarily on your type. In this respect, every human being is a little different.

There is a double connection with fatigue and sluggishness:

• Freezing and frating can cause fatigue.
• Persistent fatigue increases the feeling of cold.

What triggers constant freezing?

You feel like you’re freezing all the time and your hands are always cold? In addition to individual susceptibility to cold, a number of factors may be responsible for this.

The thyroid gland

Constant freezing may indicate a subfunction of the thyroid gland. Your job in your body is to produce important hormones and release them into the blood that your body needs for a healthy metabolism.

If it cannot do so sufficiently, it is called a thyroid underfunction. This leads to a reduced energy turnover of your body, which in turn can trigger constant freezing. The reasons can be varied.

If you suspect you have problems with the thyroid gland, this should definitely be examined by a doctor. In addition to freezing, look for additional signs such as hair loss, problems with digestion and weight gain or particularly dry skin.

Infections and inflammations

We all know this: In the case of a flu-like infection, we are constantly cold. If we have a fever, tremors can also occur. The body struggles with inflammation at this stage and part of its strategy to combat it is to raise body temperature. Cold hands and feet as well as trembling and freezing are the result.

You froze all the time and can’t explain why? Then you could suffer from chronic inflammation.

Fortunately, this is relatively easy to verify: a simple blood test at the doctor can detect certain levels of inflammation. If these are increased, there is inflammation in your organism. Your doctor can advise you on how to proceed.

Constant freezing and fatigue or sluggishness as warning signals

If the constant freezing occurs together with a persistent fatigue, this could indicate very specific causes. So both symptoms are something like warning signals from your body that you shouldn’t ignore.

What triggers them?

Iron deficiency

Iron is an essential trace element. This means that your organism needs iron to function properly.

The substance is particularly important for our blood: more than 60 of the iron balance in the body occurs in the red blood cells in the form of hemoglobin, where it is responsible for binding oxygen. Iron is therefore extremely important for the adequate oxygen supply of our organs via the blood.

In case of a lack of iron,the blood supply suffers and we become pale and freeze. Persistent fatigue and lethargy can also be a consequence.

Women in particular are often affected by an iron deficiency due to menstruation or pregnancy, which they should compensate for through diet or supplementation.

However, the deficiency may also indicate tumour diseases. A thorough examination at the doctor is therefore strongly recommended.

Vitamin deficiency

In addition to iron, we also need
vitamin B12
to supply our body with blood. The vitamin is responsible for the formation of red blood cells. Similar to iron deficiency, the lack of vitamin B12 manifests itself through tiredness and a feeling of frostbite.

However, the intake of the vitamin is somewhat tricky:you get it almost exclusively through the diet with animal products. If you live vegan or vegetarian, an undersupply with the vital substance is therefore a quite serious problem.

According to experts, no purely plant-based food offers you enough vitamin B12 to meet your daily needs. Dietary supplements are a hot tip here – because B12 preparations are also available in vegan form.

What you can do about constant freezing and fatigue

So much for the causes. But how can you combat the constant freezing and fatigue? Here are a few tips.

Movement

Constant movement keeps you on your toes and boosts your circulation. In addition to regular sports, you can also set short movement intervals to warm up.

A simple exercise to get you going right is the tried and tested
Hampelmann
, which you may still know from gymnastics lessons. Less strenuous but just as effective is the so-called penguin.

Stretch your arms down and put your hands flat on your body. Now the left and right shoulders sway as fast as it goes alternately up and down. This warms your whole body.

The right clothes

Are you a guy who is more sensitive to cold? Then pay attention to the right clothes! Dress warm rather than too summery.

The onion principleis particularly proven here: several layers of clothing, which you can also put down if it gets too warm for you. Thus, the problem of temperature compromises in the office is a thing of the past.

Pay attention to your diet

Do you eat one-sided or vegan? Then pay special attention to giving your body all the necessary nutrients. Try to make up for your deficits with certain vitamin-containing foods or take food supplements. Your doctor will be happy to advise you on this.

Vitamin C

If you suffer from an iron deficiency,
vitamin C
is a particularly good tip. The vitamin promotes iron absorption in our body.

If you want to compensate for your iron deficiency by eating, vitamin C will help you to prepare iron-containing foods (red meat, liver, spinach or beetroot) with some lemon juice. This tastes and is healthy!

Your GP / your GP helps

If you are not sure what your constant fatigue and the constant freezing is due to, there is no way around the family doctor or the family doctor.

Since the symptoms can also indicate serious illnesses, you should definitely seek advice from the professional. Don’t worry: In most cases, there’s a simple deficit behind it that you can easily make up for.