A doctor explains why you freeze more than others

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Are you really laying yourself on thick following the onion principle right now? Or are you more of a “summer outfit even in sub-zero temperatures” type?

There are reasons for this.

Mathieu Saubade is a sports medicine doctor at the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV). He explains that the feeling of cold is very individual because it involves a variety of factors: “We all have a kind of brain thermostat in the hypothalamus, and its job is to condition our response to heat and cold.”

According to Saubade, there are other factors besides the internal thermostat: “Body fat that can store more heat, our fluid balance, alcohol consumption and the condition of our blood vessels also affect how we feel.”

Why do I often feel cold in my feet?

Cold toes, cold fingers: Many people suffer from this in winter. From where? “In cold weather, blood vessels in the body’s extremities shrink,” Saubade says. Except for some diseases, this is not a pathology, but it explains why a person’s arms and feet freeze more easily. “Hormonal fluctuations make women more susceptible to this phenomenon, but in principle anyone can be affected by it.”

Do you need to eat more to freeze less?

In addition to adequate fluid intake mentioned above (at least 1.5 liters of water per day, according to the Swiss Society of Nutrition), good nutrition also helps maintain heat in the body: “Some diets can affect the response of the hypothalamus,” says the expert. A low-calorie or undiverse diet makes you more susceptible to cold. Malnutrition slows down metabolism and lowers body temperature.

Can you fight the cold?

The cause of cold sensitivity can also be mental: “Lifestyle, upbringing, culture, habit, and even some psychological trauma can influence how the brain associates the feeling of cold with negative experiences,” Saubade says.

“Apart from these special cases, there is only one solution: Fight the cold cold by exposing yourself to the cold more and more regularly,” says our expert. This can happen through cold showers or even bathing, especially in winter.

The idea of ​​jumping into a lake at -2 degrees is scary, but it has many benefits: “In the long term, such habits increase our resistance, stimulate immunity, improve sleep and support the production of good fats. or brown fat », says Saubade.

However, you should dive into the water accompanied by an experienced person, take the necessary precautions, not stay under water for too long, and talk to your doctor before swimming. Saubade: “People with certain heart problems, people with epilepsy, or people who have had a stroke.”

Source : Blick