The Chills: Triggers And Functions
Chills are body tremors. They occur involuntarily; in other words, we don’t decide when to have them and when not. Sometimes they are accompanied by the so-called goosebumps.
These tremors are made up of rapid muscle contractions and relaxation performed by the body, from head to toe, as a response mechanism to very different stimuli.
The most common case is represented by the sensation of ambient cold or in the presence of fever. In both cases, the function of the thrill is to regulate the internal temperature.
It must be borne in mind that the human being has systems and mechanisms dedicated to maintaining his internal temperature, which must remain constant. These systems are controlled by the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that sends orders to keep the temperature stable. Between these:
- Increase lung ventilation to dissipate heat into the air and generate increased oxygen circulation.
- Sweat to expel excess heat and for the outside air to cool the skin by evaporating sweat.
- Generating heat.
Even if the chills are often accompanied by goosebumps, it is good to know that these are not the same or equivalent phenomena. Goosebumps are the straightening of body hair. Its function is to create an insulating layer above the skin that avoids accumulating more heat than is lost. It is for this reason that it is associated with cold, but not always with chills. So let’s see what are the six most frequent causes that cause chills.
1. Chills due to fever
Fevers can come from many different origins, including infections, but all of them can cause chills. Children and the elderly are more prone to muscle movement.
While some protocols include treatments for fever chills, these are not really common practices. Pharmacology is only indicated for extreme cases. Calcium salts and morphine sulfate are the drugs of choice.
Chills caused by fever could be a symptom of a more serious clinical picture. In order to make a diagnosis, you need to see a doctor. Treatment will then be aimed at the underlying disease.
2. Cold
When the external environment is very cold, the body produces chills to generate internal heat. This is another mechanism for which the hypothalamus is responsible, as explained above.
There is a small difference in how the cold reaction manifests itself in different people, which depends on the amount of body fat. People with less volume of fat tend to have more chills than others.
3. Children and chills
The pediatric age is characterized by a higher frequency of chills than the adult phase. Not only due to fever, which in turn tends to be more common among infants and children than adults, but also spontaneous chills.
The spontaneous thrill of childhood has been associated with episodes of anxiety, such as the moment of hunger or the need to defecate. It is completely benign and does not require any medical treatment.
4. Infections
Infections generate chills when they cause fever. By increasing the body temperature to fight the microorganism that has introduced itself inside it, the human body is in an urgent need to eliminate this heat so as not to damage the organs.
Fever due to an infection is one necessary defense mechanism that triggers another: chills. While chills do not require specific treatment, a visit to a doctor will be helpful in treating the infection that causes the fever.
5. Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is the presence of a lower than normal sugar level in the blood. When this happens, chills appear, along with other symptoms that precede fainting, such as cold sweat and nausea.
6. Changes in the prostate and menopause cause chills
As we age, symptoms appear that did not appear before. Among these are also the chills. For men, the cause is the prostate. In men over sixty years of age, prostate enlargement is common, making it difficult to urinate. The person may feel shivering every time they make an effort to urinate, due to the enlarged prostate.
In women, however, the problem is menopause. During a hot flash, a transient increase in internal heat is felt in the trunk of the body. Chills act as temperature regulators.
In conclusion
Chills often do not require any medical intervention, but in the presence of fever it is necessary to consult a health professional. Sometimes infections signal their presence through chills. The doctor will be able to distinguish between situations that require treatment and those that are benign, which will resolve on their own.
