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Chills, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

by | Jan 27, 2022 | Info | 0 comments

Chills Overview

Chills are feeling of coldness accompanied by shivering, shaking and tremble. These conditions may arise with or without fever. Without fever, chills typically arise after exposure to a cold environment.

The term “chills” refers to a feeling of being cold without an apparent cause. You get this feeling when your muscles repeatedly expand and contract and the and the vessels in your skin constrict. You get chills when the muscles in your body squeeze and relax to try to make heat.

Essentially any condition that may produce fever, including infection and cancer) can result in chills along with fever. Fever and chills are common symptoms of influenza infection (the Flu).

Exposure to a cold environment can result in chills. With prolonged or constant exposure to cold, serious injuries related to hypothermia (a lowered core body temperature) can result. Chills in pregnancy are due to the same causes (hypothermia, infection) as chills in general.

Causes of Chills

Some chills occur after exposure to a cold environment. They can also occur as a response to a bacterial or viral infection that causes a fever. Chills are commonly associated with the following conditions:

Other Causes of Chills

As many as two in three people experience chills and shivering after receiving general anesthesia for a surgery. Even if you aren’t feeling cold, a drop in body temperature may cause you to shiver as you come out of the anesthesia.

Some people tremble from a surge of adrenaline after a traumatic event like an accident or near accident. Psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD), may also make you feel shaky.

Chills and COVID-19

Since the appearance of the novel coronavirus, people may be concerned that their symptoms are due to COVID-19.

Chills can be a symptom of a fever, which is one of the primary symptoms of COVID-19. Other symptoms include a dry cough and shortness of breath.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of COVID-19 most often appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the novel coronavirus.

Signs and Symptoms of Chills

Chills are a sign that your body is trying to regulate its core temperature. When you have chills, you may experience the following conditions:

  • Shiver or tremble
  • Shake
  • Have chattering teeth (your jaw feels like it’s rattling, sometimes with your teeth bumping together).
  • Have goosebumps (small rash-like bumps on the skin), also known as gooseflesh or goose pimples.

These are involuntary body responses. Involuntary means you can’t consciously control them. Shivering causes your muscles to contract and relax, which warms up your body.

Sometimes you might get cold chills from being exposed to low temperatures. Shivering can also be a sign that your body is fighting off an illness, infection or another health problem.

 

Diagnosis of Chills

If a person is experiencing persistent chills, a doctor can help diagnose the underlying cause. To do so, they may:

  • Review a person’s vital signs by taking their blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and temperature readings
  • Take a complete medical history, covering preexisting conditions, travel, medications, and other medical treatment
  • Ask about other symptoms, such as coughing, digestive issues, rashes, or other concerns
  • Conduct a physical examination, covering key areas such as the eyes, ears, nose, throat, neck, and abdomen

Doctors may conduct following additional tests if they suspect a particular underlying condition:

  • Blood tests
  • Chest X-rays
  • Urine cultures 

Treatment of Chills

Chills are a symptom, not a disease, so treating chills largely depends on what is causing them.

If chills occur due to a mild infection, home treatment with bed rest, plenty of fluids, and OTC pain relievers can provide relief.

If chills are bothersome, it is best to wear layers and keep warm.

Patients with diabetes should discuss their risk and possible symptoms of low blood sugar with their healthcare provider, and they should make plans for handling these issues if they occur.

Chills that occur due to other underlying health conditions should resolve when a person receives treatment for that condition.

If an illness, infection or another health problem causes chills, treating the condition should get rid of the symptom. Treatments vary depending on the underlying cause. They may include:

  • Antibiotics for bacterial and parasitic infections
  • Antiviral medications for viral infections
  • Over-the-counter medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), for conditions like influenza (flu) that cause fever and chills

Prevention of Chills

You can prevent cold chills by dressing warmly when you know you’ll be in the cold. Wearing layers allows you to adjust your clothes for the temperature so you don’t get sweaty. Sweating and then getting cold can lower your body temperature too much.

You can also take steps to safeguard your health against medical conditions that cause chills. Avoid misusing drugs or alcohol. If you have a condition like diabetes, take care to control your blood sugar.

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