A 44-year-old member asked:
why do we shiver when we are cold?
1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Julian Bragg answered
Neurology 17 years experience
Generate heat: Shivering causes intense muscle activity, generating heat and warming the body.
5674 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 31-year-old member asked:
Why do I violently shiver when cold? What can I do to avoid this?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Heidi Fowler answered
Psychiatry 25 years experience
Thermogenesis: The body' reflex reactions increase body heat production (by up to 500%) to keep internal core temperature normal. It produces heat by shivering ( involuntary muscle contractions). Increase insulation by layering clothing & wearing wind breaking material & eat adequately prior to cold exposure.
4878 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Newtown, PA
A 65-year-old female asked:
When i go out to eat and I have a cold drink like iced tea i start to shiver, is it only due to the cold weather this is something new for me?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Martin Raff answered
Infectious Disease 56 years experience
Shivering: This is one of the body's ways of raising your temperature when there is a perceived difference between the ambient temps and your body temp. It is generally quite normal, but if accompanied by true fever or other symptoms then it might be beneficial to be seen and examined professionally.
4513 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
When people come down with a cold or the flu, they shiver and get very cold. What is the physiological reason behind this?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Bert Liang answered
Specializes in Neurology
Temperature reset: This is the mechanism for fever. The hypothalamus resets the body temperature in response to an infection; shivering is a mechanism to increase temperature in response to the reset of body temperature.
727 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
United Kingdom
A 20-year-old male asked about a 20-year-old male:
Why do I sometimes shiver when it's not cold?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Gurmukh Singh answered
Pathology 49 years experience
Emotions: You may wish to make note of the circumstances that prompt shivering, it may be due to emotional stimuli.
3253 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Voorheesville, NY
A 24-year-old member asked:
The last two years I've noticed I get very cold after eating any meal and I usually shiver. Also, an hour after consuming two alc drinks I'll shiver?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Edward Seegers answered
Internal Medicine 46 years experience
Post meal: hello, this is an altogther odd story. I would hazard a guess that this has probably got something to do with the VAGUS nerve and the expression of its effect on your gastric emptying which can be delayed in diabetes. The alcohol is easy. If you dont like it !
Dont eat or drink t ! Alcohol consumption is not mandatory last I looked :-))
1288 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Last updated Mar 26, 2013
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