I feel cold and shivery all the time – what gives?

There are a few potential reasons, says Dr Sarah Brewer, GP and medical director of sports nutrition company Healthspan. ‘The rate at which cells burn carbohydrates and fats to generate energy and heat is regulated by hormones produced in the thyroid gland,’ she says. ‘Your hypothalamus [the brain’s hormone control system] checks the temperature of arriving blood and, depending on whether it’s too hot or cold, triggers mechanisms to help you lose heat via sweating, or gain heat via shivering, which directs blood flow to your core [rather than your extremities].’ While your own internal thermostat may vary from others’, the usual range is 36.1°C to 37.2°C. ‘Feeling constantly cold is a key sign of an underactive thyroid, but can also occur in people with anaemia, circulatory problems, kidney damage or diabetes,’ Dr Brewer explains, adding that those with very low body fat may also be vulnerable to feeling the chill. So, absolutely call your GP if you’re concerned. But it could also just be that – and we’re looking at you, WFH crew – you’re not really moving. ‘Lack of exercise will mean you’re not generating much heat by muscle movement – however fast you type,’ she adds. The fix? Work in five-minute ‘exercise snacks’ every couple of hours. Another day in (layered) activewear it is.