Top News

Feeling cold when others feel just fine can be more than just personal preference. For many, it hints at underlying body conditions or habits that affect how the body regulates heat. Below are some important, but not always obvious, reasons why some people feel colder than others.

Iron deficiency and blood’s heat-making role

Iron helps build healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen across the body. Without enough iron, circulation and oxygen delivery worsen. As a result, the body may struggle to produce enough warmth, leading to cold hands, feet, or even a general chill.

Low iron or anemia also brings tiredness and paleness. When the body senses that oxygen is scarce, it may redirect blood flow toward vital organs, reducing circulation to extremities. That makes hands and feet feel colder than normal.

Underactive thyroid

The small gland in the neck, the thyroid, plays a big role in regulating metabolism and body heat. If it’s underactive (a condition called hypothyroidism ), the body’s internal “heat engine” slows down.

People with low thyroid function may feel chilled even in moderate temperatures. Other common signs may accompany this: fatigue, dry skin, sluggishness or unexplained weight gain.

Low thyroid function can also subtly change blood flow and how well the body maintains heat, which often goes unnoticed until cold sensitivity becomes pronounced.

Low body fat or thin build: Less insulation, less warmth

Body fat works as natural insulation, it helps trap heat and keep the core and limbs warmer. People who are very thin or have low body fat often lose this layer of protection.

If the body lacks this insulation, it loses heat faster. That makes thin people or those with low BMI more prone to feeling cold, even indoors or in mild weather.

Additionally, muscles generate heat through activity. With lower muscle mass or less physical activity, the body may not produce enough warmth to stave off that chill.

Poor circulation and low blood pressure

Good circulation ensures warm, oxygen-rich blood reaches all parts of the body, including hands and feet. If circulation is poor, or blood pressure stays low, those extremities often remain cold.

Conditions that affect blood vessel health, like narrowing arteries, vessel spasms (e.g. in Raynaud's phenomenon), or chronic low blood pressure, can worsen this.

Sometimes the cold feeling is limited to hands and feet. Other times, it feels like a full-body chill because the body tries to conserve heat by redirecting blood flow inward.

Low vitamin B12 (and other nutrient gaps)

Vitamins like B12, and nutrients that support healthy red blood cells, play subtle but essential roles in temperature control. If these are low, the body may struggle to circulate blood properly or generate warmth.

A deficiency in B12 (or related nutrients like folate) can impair red blood cell production and affect nerve health, which may change how the body senses and responds to temperature.

Though nutrient gaps don’t always cause dramatic symptoms, they can quietly weaken the body's capacity to keep warm. In many cases, restoring healthy nutrition or supplementing (under medical guidance) substantially improves cold tolerance.

Elevated cholesterol, hormonal issues or metabolic changes

Sometimes, it's not a deficiency or low weight, but other internal imbalances such as elevated cholesterol or disrupted metabolism that make someone feel cold.

Low thyroid function (which can cause higher cholesterol), plus slower metabolism, can combine to weaken heat production.

Hormonal shifts, such as those during aging, or lifestyle changes like very low-calorie diets or sudden weight loss can also reduce the body’s heat-generation capacity.

When cold sensitivity signals more than chill: Why it matters

Feeling cold more often may seem like a minor annoyance. But in many cases, it signals deeper health imbalances, in nutrients, hormones, circulation, or body composition.

Ignoring it may mean missing early signs of conditions like anemia, thyroid dysfunction, poor circulation, or nutrient deficiency . On the other hand, if these root issues are corrected, with proper diet, medical check-ups, or lifestyle adjustments cold intolerance often improves.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice. If cold sensitivity is persistent or worsens, a qualified healthcare provider should assess it, as individual conditions and symptoms vary greatly.