Are You Getting Cold Feet?
In Houston, folks begin shedding their layers in early March. Yet despite the rising temperatures that escalate over the course of the summer, there are many who are still wearing their sweaters. While it may seem odd to the rest of the world, these individuals continue to keep their jackets within arm’s reach.
These are the individuals that are cold all the time, no matter what the season. Their hands are cold. Their feet are cold. They huddle around their cup of tea, or engage in thermostat wars with their spouse. Believe it or not, we understand them! Many of us were once there.
Cold sensitivity or cold extremities are classic symptoms of low thyroid. Adequate utilization of thyroid hormone is important for the energy factories in your cells, the mitochondria. These little engines are integral in producing the energy needed for every system in the body to perform optimally.
Because a low basal body temperature is often a sign of hypothyroidism, an easy test that you can do at home is to measure your resting temperature each morning. The best time to measure your resting temperature is first thing in the morning when you awake. Temperatures consistently below 97.8 degrees Fahrenheit are highly indicative of low thyroid.
If you are suffering from cold sensitivity or cold extremities in conjunction with additional symptoms of hypothyroidism, your internal energy factories may need a little revving up with desiccated thyroid. While being cold all the time may be a minor annoyance, consider what other symptoms of hypothyroidism may also be eliminated with proper treatment. Take our symptom checker health quiz to find out if you have symptoms of hypothyroidism.
