How to treat chills without fever

Chills occur in every person during infectious diseases that are accompanied by an increase in temperature. In this case, trembling is a protective mechanism that helps to quickly overcome the pathogen and retain heat inside the body. However, it happens that chills are observed in a healthy person when the body temperature is not elevated. In what cases chills without fever occur are discussed in detail below.

Common reasons

The standard mechanism for the appearance of chills is as follows:

1. Activation of the immune system is accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
2. To speed up heating and retain heat inside the body, superficial blood vessels spasm, which reduces heat transfer.
3. To maintain heat inside, increased energy production occurs, for which muscle contractions increase and chills occur.
4. A decrease in heat transfer is also achieved due to spasm of the small muscles of the skin, which is manifested by pimples known as “goose bumps”.

In conditions that are not related to infectious diseases, chills can be not only an objective, but also a subjective sensation. For example, with neuroses, actual muscle contraction does not occur, but a person may feel trembling due to irritation of the nerve endings on the skin. Chills are a normal and natural protective reaction in response to exposure to cold. The body quickly closes the pores to retain heat inside and signals active muscle contraction, resulting in increased energy and heat production.

Instability of the nervous system or exposure to strong provoking factors, for example, during excitement or fear, can also cause chills. Such discomfort is a typical accompanying symptom with hypertension, nausea, and also with some hormonal disorders. The most common causes of chills are discussed below.

Endocrine disorders

The mechanism of development of chills in endocrine disorders is a change in metabolic processes. Hyper- or hyposecretion of hormones leads to improper regulation of heat production processes, pathological vasospasm or excessive neuromuscular conduction. Narrowing of the capillaries, coldness of the hands and feet is often observed with hypothyroidism or diabetes.

A typical state of chills is during a hypertensive crisis or during menopausal hormonal instability, especially during hot flashes. The way out of this situation is drug replacement therapy, which normalizes hormonal balance and eliminates pathological symptoms.

Endocrine disorders can be not only pathological, but also physiological. A woman may experience chills during periods of cyclical hormonal changes, such as during menstruation or in the first weeks of pregnancy.

Diabetes

The feeling of cold and chills in diabetes mellitus is caused by a deterioration in the processes of glucose utilization and a decrease in heat production. In addition, diabetes mellitus is accompanied by circulatory disorders and degenerative changes in blood vessels. Thinning of the vascular wall and slowing of blood flow causes a subjective feeling of cold and coldness of the extremities.

Patients, as a rule, do not benefit from warm tea and a blanket, since treatment should be aimed at eliminating the underlying disease. Most often in diabetes mellitus, chills occur at night. The hypoglycemic state itself can also cause chills. In diabetes mellitus, this happens when the patient takes too large a dose of medication. Hypoglycemia is dangerous due to damage to the nervous system and is always accompanied by tremor. A similar condition is observed during acetone crisis in children.

Anemia

People who are constantly cold are recommended to be examined and determine the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Additional symptoms of this disorder include general weakness, brittle nails and hair loss, and dizziness. Anemia can also occur due to injury or internal bleeding. In this case, the person will experience pale skin, malaise, dizziness and a feeling of coldness in the extremities.

Acute respiratory viral infections

Some respiratory diseases can occur without an increase in body temperature or with a slight increase in it. In this case, chills are caused by a standard mechanism (vasoconstriction and muscle contraction), which is aimed at retaining heat inside the body. This is provided by nature, since pathogenic microorganisms survive less well at higher temperatures. Muscle contractions are necessary to enhance the processes of glucose utilization, which are accompanied by the production of thermal energy molecules.

Psycho-emotional overload

Stress is one of the most common causes of chills that occur without a fever. After strong experiences, a person will feel bad, and the nervous system will be activated, which will lead not only to a subjective feeling of cold, but also to real muscle contraction. Discomfort disappears after stabilization of the psycho-emotional background. If stress has caused muscle contractions, the patient is recommended to take a course of sedative medications.

Hypothermia

Exposure to cold forces the body to actively produce heat and accelerate biochemical processes. This condition is accompanied not only by trembling, but also by blueness of the nails, cyanosis of the lips, and general pallor of the skin. As a result of direct exposure to cold, the overall body temperature drops to 35 degrees or lower, and the patient becomes lethargic and fatigued.

The symptoms are caused by narrowing of blood vessels and disruption of signals from the central nervous system. The spasm leads to a slowdown in blood circulation, metabolic disorders and the inability of the body to warm remote areas of the body.

To eliminate such chills, it is enough to simply warm the person. It is impossible to steam your feet with hot water if you are severely hypothermic, as this can lead to rupture of small vessels. If you cannot get rid of the symptoms of hypothermia at home, you need to call an ambulance to avoid serious health consequences.

Tuberculosis

Most often, chills with tuberculosis appear in the evenings. With the disease, there is a persistent increase in temperature to subfebrile values, however, closer to night, the thermometer readings may rise. The patient cannot independently connect chills and tuberculosis, so consultation with a doctor in this case is mandatory. Additional symptoms include persistent cough, weakness, and difficulty breathing.

An accompanying symptom is the patient's constant sweating, which occurs because the body is trying to lower body temperature. However, the removal of fluid through the pores does not alleviate the condition and does not eliminate the chills. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient will face complex and lengthy treatment, the success of which largely depends on lifestyle adjustments, the state of the immune system and the stage of the disease.

Alcohol intoxication

After drinking large doses of alcohol or with chronic alcoholism, a person begins to tremble in the limbs and may shiver throughout the body. Tremor indicates a severe stage of poisoning and the presence of a large amount of toxins in the blood. Trembling begins in the palms and can be noticeable to others. The mechanism for the appearance of this symptom is the damaging effect of alcohol on the central and autonomic nervous system. A large number of toxins leads to a failure of neuromuscular regulation and pathological transmission of impulses.

If tremors appear in your hands, taking sorbents will not be enough. The patient is recommended to consult a narcologist or neurologist to examine the state of the brain and determine the extent of its damage. With regular consumption of alcohol, the patient's condition worsens and the chills intensify. Heavy metals continue to destroy the brain, after which the functioning of other internal organs is disrupted. The chills are most noticeable on the hands, but can also affect the body.

Its severity leads to the patient’s inability to perform even simple actions. You can check for tremor by asking the patient to write a few words. With severe alcoholism, complications begin in the form of depression of brain functions and muscle deformations. Dependent alcoholics suffer from hallucinations, visual disturbances, and anxiety.

Vegetovascular dystonia

This condition is characterized by a disruption of the autonomic system, which is why its effect on internal organs is inadequate. It is believed that this condition is an adaptation mechanism when the patient has chronic stress. For treatment, it is necessary to find out the root cause or underlying disease that led to the disruption of the autonomic system. Disturbances can manifest themselves in the form of frustration, unexplained depression and anxiety, as well as tremors of the hands and chills of the whole body.

Increased blood pressure

A change in blood pressure in any direction is often accompanied by chills. Patients who suffer from persistent hypertension experience this symptom regularly. The feeling of cold is explained by poor circulation due to excessive vascular spasm and insufficient warming of the extremities.

Syndom Raynaud

This pathological condition is accompanied by spasm of small vessels in the extremities. Vasoconstriction is so strong that it leads to damage to the terminal arterioles with the subsequent occurrence of trophic disorders and the appearance of neurosis. Most often, both hands are affected. During an ischemic attack, there is an increase in the tone of the sympathetic system, which increases the feeling of chills.

Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels

The disease is accompanied by a feeling of cold, increased sweating and chills. Problems arise due to blockage of blood vessels, obstruction of blood flow and insufficient blood supply to small vessels. When the brain is damaged, its functions weaken, which negatively affects neuromuscular conduction and contributes to the appearance of chills.

Stomach diseases

Stomach diseases can lead to chills in various ways. One of them is inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, the other is the production of toxins by pathogenic bacteria. Some stomach diseases are accompanied by a feeling of nausea and vomiting, which cause disturbances in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and the appearance of chills. Indigestion and intestinal infection are accompanied by increased absorption of toxins into the blood, which also leads to chills.

Reasons for women

Hormonal stability is of particular importance for women. Its cyclical changes or pathological disruptions can cause the appearance of symptoms that should normally be absent. The main causes of chills related to the functioning of the female body are given below.

Premenstrual syndrome

If fertilization does not occur, the body begins to prepare for the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The process of exfoliation of the endometrium requires strong changes in hormonal levels. Chills before menstruation are not pathological and should not cause concern. It may be accompanied by the appearance of goose bumps and pale skin. The mechanism for the appearance of the symptom is also associated with a slight increase in temperature that occurs before critical days.

The body tries to maintain thermal balance by closing pores and stimulating muscle contractions. In addition, during the premenstrual period, women often become irritable and react particularly acutely to stress, which can also cause chills, but this time caused by the functioning of the nervous system.

Menopause or menopause

The body's transition to menopause is also accompanied by changes in hormonal levels. In addition to the cessation of the functioning of the genital organs, women often develop problems with blood vessels and are diagnosed with hypertension, which becomes an additional reason for the appearance of chills. During menopause, the feeling of cold is replaced by hot flashes. Symptoms are eliminated by hormone replacement therapy, which should only be prescribed by a doctor.

Pregnancy

In early pregnancy, chills occur quite often and are not a sign of illness. Doctors explain this by hormonal changes, as well as serious changes in the functioning of the whole organism. With successful conception, instead of critical days, the woman receives an increase in progesterone concentration and an increase in overall body temperature. Women who experience toxicosis especially often complain of chills. If you are in an interesting situation, you should not rush to take antipyretics or other medications. It is necessary to report unpleasant symptoms to a doctor, who will identify the causes of discomfort and give safe recommendations.

Causes in children

More often, a child gets chills due to infectious diseases. Without fever, shivering may occur during hypoglycemia or hypothermia. If the baby is simply cold, you need to change him into warm and dry clothes, wrap him in a blanket and give him warm tea. A decrease in glucose concentration is observed in diabetes mellitus, as well as in the immaturity of the pancreas, which leads to an acetonemic state. One of the early signs of increased acetone in the blood and urine is tremors of the palms.

When to see a doctor

When you know the cause of the chills, you can assess the severity of the situation. If chills appear suddenly, it is recommended to wait and pay attention to the accompanying symptoms. If the discomfort goes away after one or two days, there is no need to worry.

Women should take into account the phase of the menstrual cycle, and men should take into account the presence of stress at work. If chills are accompanied by weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain or other unpleasant symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor. Warning symptoms are also considered a change in the color of female discharge, increased heart rate and breathing, and severe weakness.

Diagnostics

If you complain of chills without fever, you should contact your physician or pediatrician. The doctor will conduct a comprehensive examination and also analyze the patient’s lifestyle in the previous day or even week. A qualified specialist will be able to identify the relationship between chills and disruption of any organ system. After this, the patient is referred to a more specialized specialist, for example, a neurologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, or gynecologist.

To clarify the diagnosis, additional studies are carried out, among which may be prescribed:

1. clinical examination of urine and blood
2. Ultrasound
3. pregnancy test
4. MRI of the brain
5. biochemical studies to determine hormone levels

Treatment

Chills are not an independent disease or diagnosis. It should be considered as one of the patient’s symptoms, which characterizes the person’s well-being and the functioning of the nervous system. There is no magic pill for chills. Treatment should be based on the identified etiology.

Basic recommendations for the treatment of chills:

1. In case of hypothermia, it is enough to warm the person both outside and inside. Cover him with a blanket and give him warm tea.
2. Physical overexertion or severe emotional stress is treated with relaxation and requires taking sedatives for at least the minimum course of treatment. Spa treatments, swimming, yoga, art therapy will be useful.
3. The regular occurrence of chills for no apparent reason may indicate the presence of hormonal disorders. In this case, treatment must be prescribed by a doctor and will most likely be based on oral hormonal medications.
4. The chills that occur during hypoglycemia are quickly relieved by taking glucose. Timely replenishment of the main carbohydrate reserves will help prevent serious complications. People who are faced with a similar problem should always be on alert, since the state of hypoglycemia is extremely undesirable not only for a child, but also for an adult.
5. If general tests and studies do not reveal a problem, there is a high probability of a neurological etiology. Treatment in this case should be carried out only by a specialist. The effectiveness of basic therapy can be increased by creating a favorable environment in the family, at work and in other areas of life. Negative emotions have a negative impact on the functioning and structural state of the nervous system. It is recommended to go on vacation for a while, find an interesting, quiet activity, improve relationships with your loved one and avoid stress as much as possible.

Prevention

Considering the reasons given above, preventing chills is quite simple. A person can independently prevent only some causes - hypothermia, hypoglycemia, stress. It should be understood that not every chill is pathological, for example, in the early weeks of pregnancy or in the premenstrual period. More serious problems (endocrine diseases, vegetative-vascular dystonia, neurological disorders) can be avoided with the help of a proper lifestyle, good nutrition, increased adaptive abilities and self-confidence.

Pay attention to the regularity of chills, the degree of its severity and its relationship with your lifestyle. If the reason is clear to you, and the chills go away quickly and do not cause discomfort, there is no need to worry, and you can deal with the problem yourself. In unclear situations or with a significant deterioration in health, you cannot do without the help of a qualified specialist and identifying the main cause of chills without fever.

Video: 3 tests for those who are always cold

Causes of chills

There are many causes of chills. Its development indicates disorders in the body. If the feeling of chills recurs systematically, it is recommended to undergo a medical examination. Let's consider the main reasons for the development of chills without fever:

1. Severe hypothermia. When the body is severely hypothermic, the blood vessels narrow, which slows down blood circulation. In response to cooling, the body activates thermoregulation mechanisms, manifested in the form of muscle contraction. When muscles contract, they release heat and thus try to restore the body's temperature. What needs to be done? Drink a warm, warming drink, such as tea. If possible, dress warmly, and if you get wet, quickly change into dry clothes and shoes.

2. Colds or ARVI. With colds and viral diseases, the temperature may not always rise. If you do get sick and catch the virus, it is recommended to go to bed. Take more fluids, tea with raspberry jam and lemon, herbal teas or decoctions. If the chills do not go away and are accompanied by other symptoms, for example, nausea, vomiting, severe weakness, it is recommended to seek medical help.

3. Infectious diseases. Infectious diseases also may not always be accompanied by a rise in temperature. In this case, the sensation of chills indicates intoxication of the body. This is due to the fact that viruses and bacteria that have entered the body begin to release toxins in large quantities. In addition to chills, the patient is worried about symptoms such as weakness, headache, stomach and intestinal disorders.

4. Endocrinological disorders. Feelings of chills can also occur with endocrinological disorders, such as decreased thyroid function or hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland secretes a hormone that is responsible for thermoregulation. Feelings of chills can also occur in diabetes mellitus, which is associated with a sharp decrease in blood glucose levels.

5. Emotional stress or stress. Probably most of you have felt trembling in your body due to stress, tension, or a feeling of fear. The temperature in such cases does not rise. At this moment, the hormone adrenaline is released in large quantities in the body, which activates the body’s defense reactions and causes vasospasm, which we feel in the form of cold and trembling. In this case, it is better to drink sedatives (sedatives) and rest a little or fall asleep. After rest, the nervous system quickly recovers.

6. Allergic reactions. Quite often, severe allergic reactions are accompanied by chills without fever. These can be reactions to a wide variety of allergens, both food and plant. Usually, in these cases, chills are accompanied by a rash, itching, Quincke's edema and other signs characteristic of allergies.

7. Vegetovascular dystonia – is a disease of the autonomic nervous system, which manifests itself in the form of a decrease in the tone of the vascular wall and pressure surges. Dystonia can manifest itself as trembling, chills, and cold hands and feet. Hardening and strengthening the immune system help with this disease.

Chills are a condition in which a person feels unwell, chilly and cold. These symptoms develop due to sudden spasms of small vessels located just under the skin. Chills are not a disease - it is only the body’s reaction to sudden changes in temperature and metabolic disorders. Let's look at the main causes of chills without fever and conditions in which you need to see a doctor.

Chills without fever: main causes

Most often, chills without fever develop for the following reasons:

1. Severe hypothermia. At the same time, a person’s blood vessels narrow greatly and blood circulation slows down. This leads to metabolic disorders. In this state, chills and chills may occur. Eliminating it is simple - just drink a cup of hot tea and warm up.

2. Colds and ARVI. In such conditions, the temperature cannot always rise. Chills are a natural (response) reaction to the virus, which thus protects the person and signals illness.

If you feel unwell and have chills, it is recommended to steam your feet and drink tea with honey or raspberry jam, which has an antipyretic and warming effect.

3. Infectious lesions of the body. In addition to chills, a person may experience nausea, loss of strength and pallor. Before treatment, in this case it is necessary to identify the root cause of the disease.

4. Severe emotional stress or stress. In this case, the person’s body temperature will not increase, but he will literally feel “sick.” This is explained by the fact that the body will thus react to irritation in the form of stress, since the nervous system is directly connected to all other “mechanisms” in the body.

5. Allergic reaction. Most often, a person experiences chills in this state after consuming an allergen product. It could be honey, nuts, strawberries, etc.

Allergy symptoms usually include migraines, body rashes, difficulty breathing and weakness.

6. Vegetative-vascular dystonia. People suffering from this disease almost always have very cold feet and hands. It is difficult for them to warm up because their blood vessels are in poor tone.

To normalize the functioning of these vessels, you should begin to harden and strengthen your immunity.

7. Blood pressure disorders. Typically, chills develop with a sharp decrease or increase in blood pressure. Moreover, if a person has been diagnosed with hypertension, then he will feel this symptom regularly, because jumps in pressure will become quite frequent.

In this condition, it is very important to monitor blood pressure readings all the time, since if left untreated, hypertension can easily cause a stroke.

8. Endocrine disorders can also cause chills without fever. This is explained by the fact that when a person has diseases of the thyroid gland, the general thermoregulatory process is disrupted. That is, the gland stops producing the necessary hormone, which is directly involved in maintaining heat.

Most often, this condition is observed in people with diabetes. In this case, their blood circulation is greatly impaired. Gradually, the affected vessels become thinner and blood circulation is impaired. This leads to a sharp deterioration in thermoregulation.

To get rid of chills due to diabetes mellitus or other diseases of the thyroid gland, first of all, you need to treat its root cause (the disease that provoked the malaise).

9. Climax. During this period, women may also experience chills. It develops as a consequence of a lack of hormones and a general “restructuring” of the body. At the same time, the woman may also feel hot flashes.

The best treatment for this condition is hormone therapy. It must be prescribed by a specialist. These medications should not be taken without a doctor's prescription.

10. Menstruation. The fact is that some women during such a period are especially acutely aware of changes in the body. However, they may suffer not only from chills, but also from severe abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue and headaches. All these symptoms, as a rule, are observed only in the first days of menstruation.

Night chills without fever: causes

Chills that appear at night have their own specifics. Usually it indicates the development of such conditions:

1. Diabetes mellitus.

2. Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). At the same time, chills are a common reaction of the body to cold due to the fact that a person will lie on cold and wet sheets at night.

3. Hemorrhoids, or rather its complications. In this case, the body will react with chills to insufficient treatment of rectal disease.

4. Depression and nervous tension. At the same time, even in a dream a person will be very worried. This can affect his health not only with chills, but also with migraines, neuroses and disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. For this reason, in this condition, it is advisable to immediately contact a neurologist.

Chills without fever: causes and treatment

The most effective methods for treating chills are:

1. If this symptom develops after hypothermia, then you can take a warm bath with essential oils.

2. If chills develop due to a cold, then you need to wrap yourself in a warm blanket and drink lemon tea with honey. It is also advisable to drink plenty of fluids so that the body can quickly overcome the infection.

3. If this condition was provoked by endocrine disorders, then it is necessary to take a blood test for hormones. If it shows a lack of thyroid hormones, the endocrinologist can prescribe the necessary medication treatment.

4. If the cause of chills is vegetative-vascular dystonia, then you need to take medications to strengthen blood vessels. It is also important to give up bad habits and start eating right.

5. If chills occur due to severe stress or nervous tension, it is recommended to calm down and drink mint tea. Sour berry decoctions and warm milk with honey will also help.

Chills without fever: causes and prevention

Fortunately, this unpleasant symptom can be prevented. To do this, you just need to follow the following recommendations:

1. Avoid hypothermia (dress appropriately for the weather).

2. Control your psycho-emotional state and pay attention to stress in a timely manner. Signs of stress usually include:

• desire to hide “from the whole world”;

• problems at work.

1. Avoid physical exhaustion.

2. For diabetes mellitus, carry out comprehensive treatment and avoid complications from the disease.

3. If your extremities are constantly cold, consult a doctor and find out the reason for this. If vegetative-vascular dystonia is detected, treat it.

5. Play sports.

6. Give up bad habits.

7. Watch your diet.

8. In case of sudden pressure surges, constantly monitor these indicators and avoid sudden changes.

Causes of chills without fever or when to see a doctor

Despite its harmlessness, if chills are accompanied by certain additional symptoms, then it is better for the person to consult a doctor. Such manifestations are:

1. A condition in which a person suffers from chills, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. This may indicate an acute intestinal infection that requires immediate treatment. In this case, you can seek help from a therapist or gastroenterologist.

2. A rash on the body and difficulty breathing along with chills may indicate the development of an allergy.

3. A runny nose, cough, weakness and body aches can signal a flu or cold. In this condition, it is recommended to consult a therapist.

4. If chills are accompanied by strange symptoms (fever, redness of the skin, large blisters appearing on it, etc.), especially after visiting exotic countries, then you need to contact an infectious disease specialist as soon as possible.

5. If chills recur regularly and almost at the same time, then it is advisable to consult a cardiologist. After an examination and a series of procedures, the doctor can identify hypertension and prescribe appropriate treatment.