Anyone who experiences chills in the body is likely to reach out for the thermometer, because chills, according to most people are a sign and symptom of fever. But in reality, chills may be caused by many psychological and medical conditions other than fever. Chills without fever is possible when you have infections, an underactive thyroid, low blood glucose etc. Medications of certain kind are also sometimes responsible for this problem.
Chills are a body’s reaction to lowered temperature. By contracting and expanding the muscles, the body tries to regain its lost temperature. If you want to treat chills that have not been caused due to fever, you will have to get the underlying problem treated, first. Here are some of the most common reasons for chills without fever and how to address them. Find out:
Causes of Chills Without Fever
Cystitis or Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Cystitis is a urinary tract infection or infection of the bladder, which could very well be the reason behind your chills. Cystitis is caused when your urethra gets infected by certain bacteria. A person suffering from cystitis mostly have symptoms like burning sensation while urinating, foul smelling and cloudy urine, pain in the pelvis etc. It’s only when the issue gets intensified that the sufferer begins to get chills.
If you want to avoid complications, you must get your UTI treated as early as possible. This is because, by the time a patient begins to experience chills, their infection has most likely spread to their kidneys.
For UTI, drinking plenty of water is highly advisable. You can also drink cranberry juice for quicker recovery.
Side Effects of Medications
Reading on the text present on wraps of certain medicines will make you realize that even medications could cause chills without fever as a side effect. Some of the most common medicines that might cause chills without fever are Ondansetron, Ibuprofen, Voltaren, and Effexor.
If you think that your chills could be due to the medicines you are taking, then it would be wise of you to talk to your doctor regarding this. And if the chills are actually because of the medicines you take, chances are you will be prescribed alternative medicines.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a medical condition in which the thyroid glands become underactive and produce less thyroid hormones than what is required in the body. Underactive thyroid glands make people become more sensitive to cold, which in turn makes them shiver.
Since chills due to underactive thyroids can be treated only by getting the thyroid issue cured, you should do everything in your stride to better the health of your ailing thyroids. Take a diet full of nutritious food - add more of healthy fats including coconut oil, nuts, seeds fish etc. Since iodine is of extreme importance for keeping your thyroids healthy, you can benefit from taking iodine supplements. But it’s important that you consult your doctor before taking any such decision.
Anemia
If your chills aren’t accompanied by fever, you could probably be suffering from anemia. Anemia is a condition where there are not enough red blood cells in the body. It could not just cause your body shiver but also become fatigued and dizzy. Generally, it’s a deficiency of iron and/or vitamin B 12 that causes anemia.
So, if you are suffering from chills without fever due to anemia, you will first have to take steps to replenish the levels of iron and vitamin B12 in your body either with food or supplements. Some of the food items that can help you replenish your body’s stock of these nutrients are seafood, meat, egg yolks, poultry, green leafy vegetables, almonds, nuts, legumes etc.
Panic attacks and anxiety
A lot of people suffering from panic disorder, experience sudden onset of chills. These chills are often accompanied by a racing heart, dizziness, chest pain, trembling etc. A lot of people also experience a fear of death during a panic attack.
One of the best ways to get rid of anxiety, and in turn of anxiety induced chills is to use essential oils. They relax and calm the body and relieve it from stress. You can undertake restorative activities as well like yoga and meditation for positive results. A lot of people engaged in routine meditation and yoga, have claimed to have found relief from this problem.
Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar levels are also clinically known as hypoglycemia. And it is often a problem experienced by diabetics. Although hypoglycemia has many symptoms, chills without fever is a classic symptom. Chills are a result of the body’s inability to function at its optimum capacity due to a sudden dip in the glucose level. Some of the other symptoms include anxiety, profuse sweating, dizziness, and hunger. As a quick fix, doctors recommend taking something sweet to compensate the reduced glucose levels in the blood. This also helps one get rid of the chills.
Hypothermia
Shivers are the primary symptom of hypothermia, and they are not accompanied by fever. Hypothermia is a medical condition in which the temperature of the body falls, because of which the muscles begin to contract and expand in rapid succession, so as to cause the temperature to rise. As this problem gets more intense, the sufferer begins to experience confusion, disorientation, slurred speech etc.
Generally, the elderly people are at risk of hypothermia. However, it may also be caused due to certain medications. The first thing one should do when they have someone in front of them suffering from hypothermia is contacting the doctor. Next, they should take steps to warm the patient up with blankets and other means.
Sepsis (blood poisoning)
Sepsis or septicemia is a critical medical condition in which the blood gets infected. This could cause a fall in blood pressure level, clotting of blood, organ failure etc. Patients of septicemia may also experience chills without fever. This is, in fact, one of the most common symptoms of this disease.
Sepsis occurs when bacteria gets into the bloodstream. And this may also result from something as trivial as an elbow scratch. If you suspect you could be suffering from sepsis, you should seek medical assistance immediately.