Women are more afraid of cold in autumn and winter. Have you found the reason?

Have we discovered that women are more afraid of cold than men? Do you know the reason?

There are three main reasons why women are afraid of cold

Insufficient thyroid secretion

Thyroid hormone has a "heat-generating" effect, which can increase the body's basal metabolism, accelerate blood circulation in the skin, and increase heat. When thyroid hormone secretion is insufficient, the body is afraid of cold due to low heat production. Patients with hypothyroidism are more susceptible to cold than other people due to insufficient synthesis, secretion or biological effect of thyroid hormone.

In addition, studies have shown that people with low tolerance to cold have insufficient iron in their blood, often accompanied by decreased plasma thyroid hormone, while women mainly lose iron due to menstruation.

Countermeasures:

Patients with hypothyroidism should supplement with iron-rich foods and vitamin B12, such as animal liver, and if necessary, folic acid, liver preparations, etc. You can eat protein-rich foods on a daily basis, such as eggs, milk, various types of meat, fish, etc.; foods rich in plant protein, such as soy products, soybeans, as well as various vegetables and fresh fruits.

Some young women advocate a vegetarian diet and go on a slimming diet, which can easily lead to iron deficiency. In terms of diet, we must first ensure three meals a day, and pay special attention to the quality of breakfast. You should eat more iron-rich foods on a daily basis to help various nutrients fully oxidize and generate heat. At the same time, you should also supplement with foods rich in iodine and vitamin C to promote iron absorption and improve the ability to resist cold.

Decreased estrogen

Because young women have high levels of estrogen in their bodies, the heat in their bodies is easily converted into fat and stored under the skin. Their metabolism is slower, and the synthesis of heat is greater than the decomposition of heat, resulting in less heat released from the body, thus maintaining body temperature. Menopausal women aged 45 to 55 are more susceptible to cold due to decreased estrogen levels, abnormal central function, and poor blood circulation.

Countermeasures:

Soy milk is rich in soy isoflavones, which is beneficial for menopausal women. In addition, menopausal women are also prone to fatigue and night sweats. If the symptoms are obvious, you can go to the menopause clinic for consultation. Through exercise, diet, medication and other conditioning, we can help patients smoothly go through menopause and relieve discomfort.

Raynaud's syndrome

If your hands and feet are cold, you should also pay attention to vasculitis, peripheral neuritis, and Raynaud's syndrome. Raynaud's disease is more common in women, with the age of onset mostly between 20 and 40 years old, and is more severe in cold seasons. If your hands turn white, then red or purple when exposed to cold air or soaked in cold water, you must pay enough attention to it. These are manifestations of Raynaud's syndrome, indicating that there is some abnormality in the body, or even a serious disease, such as lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis, etc. Many patients often experienced Raynaud's phenomenon several years or even more than ten years ago, but did not pay enough attention to it, thinking it was "frostbite." As the weather warms, their symptoms often lessen and are forgotten.

Countermeasures:

If you discover Raynaud's phenomenon, do not take it lightly and go to the rheumatology and immunology department as soon as possible. Because Raynaud's phenomenon is likely to be a precursor symptom of many immune diseases, it may develop into a typical rheumatic immune disease after several years. Only by visiting a rheumatic immune disease specialist can you most likely get an early diagnosis and correct treatment. At the same time, take good warming measures when going out in autumn and winter.

12 tips to keep warm in winter

1. Don’t set the heating temperature too high. John Skoll, a vascular surgeon at University College London Hospital, said that if the air conditioning or heating temperature is too high and the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is too large, small blood vessels may suddenly contract when going out, making people feel colder. Therefore, the indoor temperature is best set at 18℃~20℃.

2. Consume less caffeine. Eddie Charona, a vascular surgeon at Lewisham General Hospital in the UK, said that caffeine has the effect of dilating blood vessels, making it difficult for blood vessels to contract naturally in cold conditions, leading to heat loss in the body and making people feel colder. Decaffeinated hot drinks such as ginger tea are better for keeping warm and are more suitable for winter.

3. Keep your hands out of your pockets. Tim Hatcheff, an expert from the British Chiropractic Association, said that when walking in winter, you should not put your hands in your pockets. Instead, you should wear gloves and swing your arms. This can exercise the arm muscles, improve blood flow to the arms and hands, generate heat in the body, and help keep warm.

4. Drink more soy milk. Dr Sarah Zink, a nutritionist at the British Dietetic Association, said that consuming protein can significantly increase body temperature compared to consuming carbohydrates or fat. It is recommended to drink a cup of soy milk for breakfast, and eat some nuts and yogurt at the same time.

5. The hat should cover the ears. Dr. Andrew Camilleri, an ENT surgeon at the University Hospital of South Manchester in the UK, said that heat dissipation from the head accounts for 30% of the body's heat dissipation. It is best to choose a hat that covers the ears, because although the ears are thin, they have a large surface area and are easier to dissipate heat.

6. Move your toes before getting up. British physiotherapist Sammy Magor recommends moving your toes up and down 20 times before getting up, then moving your ankles in circles with your feet, 10 times in each direction, and then tightening and relaxing your thighs 10 times. This will allow your body to move around so you don't feel too cold when you get out of bed.

7. Use moisturizer. British dermatologist Dr. Ansho Sahota recommends that people with eczema or dermatitis pay more attention to moisturizing in cold weather. Because inflammation in the dermatitis area will accelerate blood flow to the epidermis, causing more loss of body heat.

8. Place your shoes next to the heater. In cold weather, most of the blood is sent to vital organs, and less is sent to the hands and feet. British podiatrist Mike O'Neill said that feet are like thermos bottles. Once they start to get cold, they will stay cold. Therefore, it is best to warm up your shoes next to the heater before wearing them.

9. Wear a small vest. Charona said that wearing a thermal vest or a belly band can help maintain the core body temperature, reduce body heat dissipation, and be more beneficial to keeping the body warm.

10. Sit in a rocking chair. Being sedentary for long periods of time can cause your body temperature to drop. It is recommended to choose a rocking chair when sitting, which can help to exercise the arm and thigh muscle groups, promote blood circulation and generate more heat.

11. Don’t stay at home all the time. A study from the University of Toronto in Canada found that people who like socializing are less afraid of the cold. Instead of "hibernating" at home, it is better to go out and communicate with friends to add a sense of warmth, enhance positive emotions, and drive away the cold.

12. Recall happy past events. A study from the University of Southampton in the UK found that recalling happy past events can recreate the physical comfort of the past, making people feel warmer and more resistant to cold.