About chills
Chills represent the sensation of cold and trembling and are determined by the body’s effort to restore its temperature. They are a reflex response of the body, through a series of repeated contractions of the skeletal muscles and the muscles around the vital organs.
Chills can be accompanied by fever, the most known causes being viruses or respiratory infections. Chills and fever are usually caused by mild conditions, such as a cold, but there are also situations when these symptoms can be a consequence of more severe illnesses, such as influenza, malaria or meningitis.
For most people, the average core body temperature is around 37 degrees Celsius, but this can vary depending on various factors. Exposure to extreme cold can lead to hypothermia, which occurs when the body’s temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius.
What are the causes of chills?
Chills can be caused by several factors:
- exposure to cold: you may have chills without fever when you are in a cool place, even indoors, if the air conditioning is set too low. As the body ages, regulating body temperature becomes more difficult, even in healthy individuals. Conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease can make the problem worse. Shivering uses the body’s energy to prevent heat loss, which often leads to drowsiness, decreased cognitive abilities, difficulty speaking, and confusion;
- infectious diseases, such as: flu, bacterial or viral gastroenteritis, pneumonia, meningitis, sinusitis, urinary tract infections, malaria, sepsis;
- exposure of the body to intense physical effort or exhausting activities: physical overstrain can lead to an increase in body temperature and dehydration, so the body resorts to a mechanical strategy to reduce the accumulated temperature, by tensing and quickly relaxing the muscles;
- dysfunctions of the thyroid gland: hypothyroidism is known for symptoms such as chronic fatigue, constipation, slowed heart rate and difficulty regulating body temperature, frequent chills;
- hypoglycemia: the sudden drop in blood sugar can cause various symptoms such as sweating, chills, irritability or even nausea, accompanied by an intense need for food;
- intense emotions: a milder form of chills is the feeling of coldness or “goosebumps”, produced by the raising of the hairs, as a result of the muscles tensing during strong emotions;
- anemia and malnutrition: lack of iron in the body can lead to anemia; the more severe it is, the more distressing the symptoms become. Not only iron deficiency can cause chills, but also the lack of other essential elements, such as copper and zinc;
- side effects of general anesthesia: during operations that require general anesthesia, the body loses its temperature and begins to return to the thermal comfort zone. The feeling of discomfort caused by chills can last for half an hour;
- drugs: chills without fever can also be caused by taking certain drugs or combinations of drugs; they can also occur if you take an incorrect dose of a drug or herbal supplement;
- malnutrition: chills without fever can also be caused by malnutrition, when the body does not receive the nutrients necessary for proper functioning; this can happen because of a lack of nutritious foods, a medical problem that affects the body’s ability to absorb substances properly, or an eating disorder such as anorexia. Without an adequate intake of nutrients, the body cannot function properly.
What are the risk factors of chills?
There are various factors that favor the appearance of chills:
- age: young children and the elderly are at the greatest risk, because their body has a low ability to regulate its temperature;
- alcohol/drug use: a person who abuses alcohol or uses drugs runs the risk of not realizing if they are cold, as both the thermoregulation center in the brain and cognitive ability are affected, all the more so alcohol can create a feeling of warmth.
What are the symptoms associated with chills?
In addition to feeling cold, shivering or fever, chills can also be accompanied by symptoms such as:
- feeling sick and vomiting;
- lethargy and altered general condition;
- sweating;
- cough;
- generalized pain;
- skin rash;
- diarrhea;
- abdominal pain.
Diagnostic methods
If the symptoms of chills become worrying, it is necessary to ask for a specialist consultation; the doctor will recommend targeted investigations, clinical examination and the necessary analyzes in order to identify the cause that led to the appearance of chills:
- blood tests: to detect bacterial or viral infections;
- sputum tests;
- urine test;
- lung X-ray: to exclude or confirm the diagnosis of pneumonia, tuberculosis have other lung diseases.
Chills can become a medical emergency if they are accompanied by a fever over 40 degrees Celsius, do not disappear after 48 hours and are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- wheezing;
- chest pain;
- headache;
- pallor or cyanosis;
- persistent watery diarrhea;
- faint;
- convulsions;
- stiff neck;
- frequent and painful urination;
- vomiting;
- sensitivity to light;
- severe cough;
- confusion.
Treatment options
Chills can be treated at the doctor’s office or at home, depending on the factor that caused them.
If you experience chills accompanied by fever and your doctor recommends medication, follow the regimen as directed. It varies depending on the underlying cause of the chills and may include:
- antibiotics, in case of bacterial and parasitic infections;
- antiviral drugs, for viral infections;
- non-prescription medicines (antithermics), in case of cold and flu.
You can also try different home remedies to manage chills without fever and severe symptoms, such as hot teas, hot soup, wearing warm clothes, or a warm bath.
Possible complications
The evolution of chills can degenerate when the causes are severe, and depending on them the complications can be:
- occurrence of frostbite;
- hypothermia;
- acute ischemia;
- sepsis.
Methods of prevention
To prevent chills caused by low temperatures, it is advisable to wear warm clothes in layers when you are going to a cold place or when you have to stay exposed to low temperatures for several hours.
Another way to avoid the onset of chills is to adopt methods of protection against diseases that cause chills. For example, the risk of colds and flu can be reduced by washing hands properly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after contact with surfaces touched by many people, after using the toilet and before meals, and avoiding touching the face with dirty hands, but also by removing people showing symptoms of illness (sneezing, nasal secretions, coughing, etc.).
And the risk of bacterial infections can be reduced by proper hand washing and by limiting contact with sick people, who can be contagious.
Also to prevent chills it is recommended not to abuse alcohol and not to use drugs. If you have a condition like diabetes, it is extremely important to control your blood sugar.
