Feeling cold while sweating can be a perplexing experience. While sweating typically cools the body, experiencing a chill simultaneously signals various physiological responses. Understanding this apparent paradox involves exploring how the body regulates its internal temperature.
The Body’s Conflicting Signals
The body’s ability to maintain a stable internal temperature, known as thermoregulation, is managed by the hypothalamus, a region in the brain. This area acts like a thermostat, receiving constant input about the body’s core temperature from internal and external cues. When the hypothalamus detects a deviation from the ideal temperature, it initiates responses to either generate or dissipate heat.
To cool the body, it signals sweat glands to produce sweat, which cools the skin as it evaporates, and promotes vasodilation, widening blood vessels to release heat. Conversely, to warm the body, it can trigger vasoconstriction, narrowing blood vessels to conserve heat, and shivering, where muscle contractions generate warmth. Sometimes, these distinct heat-regulating processes can overlap or activate inappropriately, leading to the sensation of being cold while sweating.
Common Reasons for Feeling Cold While Sweating
One frequent scenario involves a fever breaking. When the body fights an infection, the hypothalamus “resets” its temperature set point to a higher level, causing the body to feel cold and shiver as it tries to reach this new, elevated temperature. Once the infection is overcome, the hypothalamus lowers the set point back to normal, and the body rapidly sweats to shed the excess heat.
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is another common cause. When glucose levels drop too low, the body releases stress hormones like adrenaline to raise them. This hormonal surge can trigger symptoms such as sweating, clamminess, a sensation of coldness, shakiness, and a rapid heartbeat.
Anxiety or a stress response also frequently leads to cold sweats. The body’s “fight-or-flight” mechanism, activated by perceived threats, floods the system with adrenaline. This response increases heart rate, shunts blood away from the skin (causing a cold sensation), and stimulates sweat glands.
Night sweats, characterized by excessive sweating during sleep, can also make a person feel cold as the sweat cools the body. While some night sweats are due to simple factors like a warm room or heavy bedding, they can also be a symptom of hormonal changes, such as those experienced during menopause, or certain infections.
After intense physical activity, the body continues to shed heat even as exertion stops. Sweat evaporation from the skin and changes in blood flow as it redistributes after a workout can cause a person to feel chilled despite residual sweating.
Certain medications, including some antidepressants, pain relievers, and diabetes medications, can interfere with the body’s thermoregulation and cause sweating as a side effect. These medications can disrupt the body’s natural temperature control mechanisms, leading to unexpected sweating even when feeling cold.
When to Consult a Doctor
While feeling cold and sweating can often be linked to temporary causes, medical attention is warranted in some situations. Persistent or unexplained episodes should prompt a doctor’s visit, especially if they occur frequently without an obvious trigger or significantly disrupt daily life or sleep. Consult a doctor if cold sweats are accompanied by other concerning symptoms. These include chest pain or discomfort, severe unexplained pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, or changes in consciousness. Such combinations could indicate serious conditions like a heart attack, severe infection (e.g., sepsis), shock, or certain endocrine disorders like an overactive thyroid.
Managing the Discomfort
For discomfort stemming from non-serious causes, several practical approaches can help manage episodes of sweating while feeling cold. Wearing clothing in layers allows for easy adjustment to temperature fluctuations. Maintaining good hydration is important to replenish lost fluids. Controlling your immediate environment, such as adjusting room temperature or using appropriate bedding, can help prevent extremes that might trigger these sensations.
For instances linked to anxiety or stress, incorporating stress management techniques like deep breathing or meditation may help calm the body’s physiological responses. If low blood sugar is a factor, being aware of dietary choices and eating regularly can help stabilize glucose levels. Monitoring the patterns of these episodes can also provide valuable information for personal management or discussion with a healthcare provider.