GENERAL HEALTH
Why Do I Have the Chills? Causes & Treatments
March 26, 2020
Symptom Guides > General Health > Why Do I Have the Chills? Causes & Treatments

by
Dr. Chris Bodle
Dr. Bodle is a board certified emergency medicine physician. He received his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine, and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Emory University. In addition to K Health, he currently works as an Emergency Medicine physician in an Urban, Level 1 Trauma Center in the south east.
Have you ever experienced cold chills running through your body, making you shiver even if you are wearing warm clothing or wrapped in a blanket? Body chills are one of the body’s methods for trying to warm itself up, either because your internal body temperature has dropped significantly, or there is a threat the body is trying to fend off.
Cold chills can be a symptom of minor and treatable conditions, such as the common cold, or more serious infections, such as influenza or meningitis. Some people with inflammatory and autoimmune disorders experience chills.
Body chills often occur alongside a fever, but chills without fever can also arise after exposure to extremely cold temperatures. In many cases, chills on their own don’t signify a major health issue and can be treated at home without a visit to the doctor’s office.
When body chills are combined with other concerning symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor as this may be a sign of a serious condition.
In this guide, I’ll cover:
“Chills are your body’s natural way of raising its own temperature to fend off infection, as most infectious pathogens struggle to survive above a normal body temperature.”
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by
Dr. Chris Bodle
Dr. Bodle is a board certified emergency medicine physician. He received his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine, and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Emory University. In addition to K Health, he currently works as an Emergency Medicine physician in an Urban, Level 1 Trauma Center in the south east.
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