Feeling chilly and getting the shivers is usually a sign that a fever is on its way. But did you know that sometimes you might feel cold and have chills without a fever? That’s pretty rare, according to Robert Biernbaum, D.O., chief medical officer at WellNow Urgent Care.
This might include thyroid conditions, malnutrition, or low blood sugar, he explains.
“You should see a doctor,” says Hannah Cohan, N.P., if it happens frequently. “There could be a link to infections, long-term illnesses, or problems with the immune system.”
Maybe you’re just cold-natured, or you spent too much time outside in the cold.
Your body contains systems that tightly regulate your body temperature, keeping it in a healthy zone of about 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit.
You may wonder what’s causing these chills without a fever. Jeffrey Quinlan, M.D., chair and department executive officer of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, suggests seeing a physician for recurrent chills.
1. Being in a Cold Environment
It may sound obvious, but the most common reason for chills with no fever is that you’re actually cold.
Your skin has special receptors that sense the cold and send messages to your brain telling you it’s time to warm up. As a result, you might adjust your behavior by moving to a warmer environment or layering on a blanket or more clothes.
“However, if you stay in that cold environment, your blood vessels can start to constrict to limit heat loss. Next, you might start shivering. Your muscles contract to increase your body’s heat production and raise your temperature.”
