Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can make individuals feel cold, a common symptom stemming from the disease’s impact on the body’s internal temperature regulation. This sensation, even in warm environments, is a recognized aspect of living with MS. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and contributing factors helps clarify why this occurs.
The Neurological Basis of Cold Sensations
The primary reason individuals with MS may experience cold sensations lies in the neurological damage caused by the disease. Multiple sclerosis involves the immune system attacking myelin, the protective sheath around nerve fibers in the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. This demyelination disrupts the efficient transmission of electrical signals along nerves.
Lesions can form in various parts of the brain, including the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus acts as the body’s thermostat, playing a central role in monitoring and maintaining core body temperature. When lesions occur in the hypothalamus, its ability to accurately regulate temperature can be impaired. This disruption means the brain may misinterpret temperature signals or fail to initiate appropriate responses, such as shivering or vasoconstriction, to generate and conserve heat, leading to a persistent feeling of cold.
Additional Factors Contributing to Feeling Cold
Beyond direct neurological damage, several other factors can contribute to or worsen cold sensations in individuals with MS. Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary bodily functions like blood flow and sweating, can play a role. MS can impair the neural control of these functions, affecting the body’s ability to regulate its temperature effectively. For instance, impaired vasoconstriction, the narrowing of blood vessels to conserve heat, might make someone feel colder.
Certain MS medications may also influence temperature perception or regulation, potentially affecting circulation or metabolism. Fatigue, a widespread symptom in MS, can also heighten sensitivity to temperature changes and reduce physical activity, which helps generate body heat. Other MS symptoms like increased pain, stiffness, numbness, or tingling can be exacerbated by cold, intensifying discomfort.
Managing Cold Discomfort
Individuals experiencing cold discomfort due to MS can adopt several strategies to alleviate their symptoms:
- Layering clothing, including hats, gloves, and thick socks, allows for easy adjustment to changing temperatures.
- Maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature and using blankets can help create a warmer environment.
- Consuming warm beverages and eating warm meals can help raise core body temperature.
- Utilizing heated pads, electric blankets, or space heaters can provide localized warmth, though caution is advised if sensation is impaired.
- Engaging in gentle physical activity, if safe, can improve circulation and generate internal heat.
- Discussing persistent cold sensations with a healthcare provider is important for personalized advice and to rule out other potential causes.
Understanding Other Temperature Sensitivities
While feeling cold is a concern for some with MS, the disease can also impact temperature regulation in other ways, notably causing heat sensitivity. This phenomenon, often referred to as Uhthoff’s phenomenon, involves the temporary worsening of neurological symptoms when body temperature increases. Even a slight elevation in core body temperature, as little as 0.5°C, can trigger symptoms like increased fatigue, blurred vision, or balance issues.
This heat sensitivity is a related but distinct aspect of MS-related temperature dysregulation. The central nervous system’s impaired ability to conduct signals in demyelinated areas means individuals with MS are sensitive to both cold and heat extremes, as nerve impulses function best within a narrow temperature range. While the focus here is on cold sensations, understanding this broader temperature sensitivity provides a complete picture of how MS affects thermal responses.