Why Do We Experience Chills and How to Manage Them

If you find yourself shivering, first ensure it’s not a sign of a serious condition.

Chills occur as a physiological reaction when the body's surface blood vessels constrict. Most commonly, mild shivering results from exposure to cold. Yet, chills can also stem from more concerning causes.

Why Do Chills Occur with Fever?

After exposure to cold, the most common cause of chills is a fever. Medical professionals define fever as a body temperature of 99.9°F (37.7°C) or higher.

Fever itself is a symptom linked to numerous illnesses, including bacterial infections and various internal inflammations. It is most often experienced during respiratory infections like the common cold or flu.

The mechanism behind chills during a fever is straightforward. To combat infection, the body raises its temperature, which is harmful to many viruses and bacteria. To accelerate warming and retain heat, surface blood vessels constrict and shivering begins. This is why rapid temperature increases cause a person to look pale and feel intensely chilled.

Why Do Chills Occur Without a Fever?

1. Cold Exposure

Cold temperatures cause blood vessels to narrow to preserve internal body heat. In response, the body rapidly contracts and relaxes muscles to generate warmth.

You don’t need to be inadequately dressed in freezing weather to start shivering. Sudden temperature changes—such as moving from a hot outdoor environment into an air-conditioned room—or a light breeze while wearing damp clothes can trigger chills.

2. Medication Side Effects

Certain medications, including over-the-counter drugs, can cause excessive sweating and chills. These side effects are usually detailed in the medication’s instructions.

Additionally, combining medications or overdosing can provoke shivering.

This is a common reason elderly individuals experience chills, as they often take multiple medications without thoroughly reviewing their effects.

3. Intense Physical Activity

During activities like running a marathon or swimming long distances, muscles generate significant heat. The body heats up and cools down through sweating.

The temperature difference between the skin and the surrounding air can cause chills, especially on very hot (when sweating is intense) or very cold days.

4. Endocrine Disorders

Persistent cold sensations and chills are frequent symptoms of hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland produces insufficient hormones. Due to hormone deficiency, the body struggles to regulate temperature effectively, leading to blood vessel constriction and shivering.

5. Menstruation and Menopause

Significant hormonal fluctuations during menstruation and menopause can also cause chills.

6. Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia refers to a sharp drop in blood sugar levels, which can result from physical or emotional stress, strict dieting that limits glucose intake, or mismanaged diabetes medication.

During hypoglycemia, acute muscle weakness can cause fine trembling and chills.

This condition is dangerous; if blood sugar continues to fall, it can lead to nervous system damage, seizures, loss of consciousness, and coma.

7. Malnutrition

Malnutrition produces effects similar to hypoglycemia but involves a broader deficiency of nutrients beyond glucose.

If you frequently experience chills while dieting or losing weight, consult a healthcare professional. Chills can precede symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, infertility, insomnia, depression, and even anorexia, which can be life-threatening. It is crucial to restore a balanced diet promptly.

8. Stress and Emotional Strain

Stress elevates adrenaline levels, which causes constriction of surface blood vessels and results in shivering. This explains why intense anger or anxiety can make a person tremble.

How to Treat Chills

Given the variety of causes, there is no universal treatment for chills. Management depends on the underlying reason:

• If you feel cold, drink hot tea, warm up, and relax to relieve blood vessel constriction.
• If chills accompany an infection and fever, consult a healthcare provider and follow their guidance.
• If chills result from physical or emotional exhaustion, take a few moments to relax, breathe deeply, and calm yourself.
• If chills occur regularly, seek medical advice to rule out hormonal imbalances, developing diabetes, or nutrient deficiencies.

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