Shivering, also referred to as chills, occurs when the body attempts to produce heat to increase its temperature from within, causing muscles to contract and relax rapidly.
Uncontrolled shivering may occur at the beginning of an infection and are usually associated with fever, but in some cases, it may happen without fever.
Several conditions may lead to shivering without fever, which include; food poisoning, infections, malnutrition, anxiety, among other causes. This condition is characterized by several signs including;
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Constipation
Shivering without fever
Shivering could happen simply because of exposure to cold weather. It could also indicate a bacterial or viral infection in the body. If the shivering occurs without shivering, it may indicate any of the following conditions;
1. Food poisoning
Food poisoning can present symptoms of chills without fever. Some other symptoms that indicate food poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.
2. Medication
Certain medications lead to side effects that lead to the appearance of chills. For you to avoid this, you need to adjust your dosage. Some such medications include; ibuprofen, Effexor, and Voltaren.
3. Cystitis or urinary tract infection
Bladder infections affect women a lot more than men. Bacteria cause most of these infections, and if not detected on time, they could spread to the kidneys.
The probability of women getting these infections is 1 in every 5 women. On the other hand, men rarely get bladder infections, but the risk of getting this will increase with age. Symptoms of this condition include;
- Increased urinary frequency: those suffering from these infections normally feel the need to urinate more often than normal people. Research shows that individuals with these infections make up to 60 trips to the bathroom per day. These frequent bathroom visits are as a result of smaller amounts of urine than what healthy people make.
- Chills: fever and shivering when you have urinary tract infection indicate that the infection has reached the kidneys. This is not common, but if it happens, consult your doctor immediately.
- A sensation of full bladder even when you emptied it: cystitis will make you think you are carrying a full bladder even when you are done urinating. If you are unable to urinate immediately, you may experience abdominal pain in varying degrees.
- A burning sensation during urination: because of the inflamed bladder and urethra, it is hard and sometimes painful for a person with cystitis to urinate.
- Cramping in the abdomen– a bladder infection can be very painful, especially in the abdominal or urethral area. This happens when the bladder becomes inflamed, causing your abdomen to feel pulsing pain and cramps. You can also feel like there is the pressure exerted in the lower abdomen.
4. Malnutrition
This occurs when your body is not getting sufficient nutrients. When your body does not get enough nutrients, it becomes vulnerable to viruses and bacteria and lacks the energy it requires to perform even the most basic tasks.
There is a wide range of causes of this condition, ranging from poor diet, problems with absorption and digestion, and auxiliary medical conditions. The most common symptoms of these conditions include fatigue, dizziness, and weight loss, among others. They depend on the nutrients you lack. General signs of malnutrition include;
- Depression: micronutrient deficiency causes behavioral changes, and the most common is depression. The individual may also feel bouts of uncontrollable irritation, anxiety, and lack of interest in social interactions.
- Malnourished individuals lack proper body heat since they lack enough stored fat in their bodies. Less fat accounts for less heat, thus the malnourished person may feel cold even when he does not have a fever.
- Exhaustion– lack of nutrients in your body leads to insufficient energy for the body to perform certain tasks. This causes a perpetual feeling of fatigue throughout the day.
- Lightheadedness: malnutrition affects brain functions. That way, individuals suffering from this condition will be unable to concentrate for long periods.
- Weight loss: individual suffering from malnutrition often has less appetite than the normal person, which means he is likely to end up getting fewer nutrients in his body.
5. Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition where your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone.
According to research, your thyroid is connected with your metabolism; an underactive thyroid can make you feel greater sensitivity to the cold, leading to more shivering. Other signs of an underactive thyroid include; depression, dry skin, constipation, and fatigue.
To resolve this situation, you should enjoy a balanced diet incorporating healthy fats like nuts, seeds, coconut oil, legumes, and fish.
6. Anemia
Anemia occurs when the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells. This could be the reason you have chills that aren’t accompanied by fever. This condition causes shaking, fatigue, dizziness, and headaches.
Iron deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency can cause you to become anemic.
To prevent anemia from lack of iron in your diet, you should make sure and enjoy a balanced diet that contains green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, and almonds. Some other sources of iron are red meat, poultry, egg yolks, and seafood.
7. Anxiety
Experiencing chills without a fever could be a sign of a panic attack or a panic disorder. The shivering may be accompanied by a pounding heart, trembling, nausea, chest pain, and dizziness.
Essential oils for anxiety, stress, and depression are; lemon, chamomile. Lavender and jasmine
You can also put 1-2 drops of essential oil on your palm, cup your palms over your nose and inhale deeply 4-6 times to reduce your anxiety.
8. Hypoglycemia
This condition is caused by extremely low sugar or glucose in your body, and it is usually associated with diabetes.
One of the symptoms of this condition is chills without a fever. This happens because the sugar level is low, such that the body can’t function properly. The other symptoms of this condition include;
- Dizziness
- Hunger
- Pounding heart
- Sweating
- Anxiety
To treat this condition, doctors recommend drinking some fruit juice or any other juice containing sugar.
9. Hypothermia
Shaking chills are one of the symptoms of this condition. Hypothermia occurs when the body’s temperature drops, and your muscles contract and relaxes quickly to try and warm up your body.
If this condition persists, it will make you stop shivering and become disoriented, confused, and slurring speech. Elderly people are most at risk of getting this condition.
If you notice symptoms of this condition, you should immediately take steps to provide some warmth, like covering with a blanket. You should also seek medical attention for extreme cases of this condition.
Causes of uncontrolled shivering
Uncontrollable shivering is your body’s reaction to being exposed to cold temperatures for longer periods, a drop in sugar levels, fighting infections, or extreme anxiety, among others.
Severe shivering is also called rigors, and the body uses these tremors to increase its core temperature.
The following is an insight into these causes;
1. Panic attack
Panic attacks can come on suddenly, without any immediately identifiable trigger. Uncontrollable shivering and body tremors could be a sign of anxiety. This condition may be accompanied by symptoms such as;
- chest pains
- Shortness of breath
- Fear of losing control
- Trembling or uncontrollable shaking
Panic attacks are just one way that extreme emotional or physiological stress can affect the body. This situation can be handled through proper stress management.
2. Cold
If you have uncontrollable shivering, it is a sign that your body is fighting an infection like a common cold or the flu virus. The chills that cause fever to make your body feel colder while shivering increases the body’s core temperature.
The first symptoms are sweats and some periods of chills.
3. Anxiety
Anxiety and stress can cause a physical reaction in some people, and the symptoms often include uncontrollable shivering.
4. Nausea
Nausea is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It is a symptom of conditions like dehydration or pregnancy.
Extreme dehydration is a serious condition that can cause chills and uncontrollable shivering. Children are prone to this condition, especially in hot weather, and it is, therefore, important to recognize symptoms.
5. Anemia
Sometimes you may feel an unexplained cold sensation even in hot weather, causing uncontrolled shivering accompanied by weakness and fatigue. This may be due to iron-deficiency anemia, a medical condition characterized by low blood hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin is a substance in the blood that binds iron and plays an important role in transporting oxygen to the different parts of your body. Symptoms of anemia deficiency include;
- Pale skin– if you are anemic, you will have an unusual light skin color. This is because a low amount of red blood cells flow through the bloodstream.
- Severe chest pain– low hemoglobin levels will force the heart to do excess work to supply the required amount of oxygen and blood to the rest of the body. When your heart is overworked, you may suffer severe chest pains or chest diseases.
- Dizziness– anemia may cause lightheadedness and vertigo because the heart struggles to deliver enough oxygen to the brain. Low levels of oxygen may lead to erratic and labored breathing.
- Headaches– an iron deficiency in the brain causes the brain arteries to swell, which could lead to a headache.
- A fast or irregular heartbeat– iron deficiency causes palpitations because the heart needs to work extra hard to circulate blood through the body. This condition requires immediate doctor’s attention.
- Cold hands and feet– when small blood vessels in your extremities receive little iron, they become more susceptible to drops in temperature. This leads to freezing hands for anemic patients.
- Weakness and fatigue– iron deficiency will make you feel tired, weak, and lethargic because the muscles don’t get the right amount of oxygen they need to function properly.
6. Food poisoning
When food becomes contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites, it can cause inflammation and infection in your digestive system, causing rigors as the body tries to fight the infection.
This condition is characterized by stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea after eating as well as shivering. The signs of food poisoning can show up between a few hours and several weeks after eating contaminated food.
Although this condition could last a few days, many natural remedies can help relieve the symptoms. You may also drink ginger tea. It has medical properties that can help you recover faster from food poisoning.
Ginger also contains some anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help reduce stomach spasms, kill off infections, and soothe an inflamed intestinal tract. Ginger can help bring down fever and uncontrollable shivering.
7. Drug allergy
Some prescription drugs, especially when taken in high doses, have some side effects, which include uncontrollable shaking.
You should, therefore, ask your doctor to adjust the dosage of your medications if they have side effects like shivering.
8. Mental disorder
You may shiver uncontrollably when overwhelmed with emotional problems such as anxiety disorders or panic attacks. This condition may be accompanied by dry mouth, nervousness, and lowering of body temperature.
To resolve this, you can opt for relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga. These help calm your mind and relieve anxiety.
9. During pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman has to undergo several hormonal changes during the stage, and this suppresses this phase, making her weak. It is because of this reason that a pregnant woman may face several issues, including uncontrollable shivers and chills.
Shivering during pregnancy is a common problem experienced by most women, and it seldom has any medical consequences.
Shivering may also be a result of urinary tract infection, and it is common during pregnancy. Some other causes include pneumonia, appendicitis, and preeclampsia. The symptoms of this condition include;
- Dizziness and loss of energy
- A headache
- Nausea
- vomiting
10. Low blood sugar levels
Having your blood sugar levels below normal can lead to uncontrollable shivering that is accompanied by dizziness, sweating, hunger, trembling, headache, and rapid heartbeats.
This condition is also known as hypoglycemia and is common among diabetics who take insulin. Wrong dosages (excess) of insulin can lead to a rapid decline in sugar levels.
Other possible causes include skipping meals, alcohol abuse, excessive exercise, and low carbohydrate intake. Your doctor will recommend eating small meals to avoid drops in sugar levels; you can also eat more complex carbohydrates and avoid sugary foods.
11. Respiratory tract infection
Respiratory tract infection may be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. This condition may be accompanied by bouts of uncontrollable shivering, coughing, chest pains, and other breathing problems.
You may treat this condition by loosening the mucus in the chest. This is done by drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding irritants, and taking medications to relieve the symptoms.
Accompanying symptoms
Symptoms of shivering will highly depend on what kind of nutrient is deficient. The most common symptoms include;
Shaking hands
The contractions of your muscles cause this.
Constipation
This is one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. If you have low thyroid hormone levels, you will experience problems in bowel movement, because of a slowdown in your digestive system.
Vision problems
Low blood sugar may cause blurry vision because the central nervous system lacks enough sugar for it to work properly.
Cold hands and feet
This happens when small blood vessels in your extremities receive insufficient iron. This makes them more susceptible to drops in temperature. It is the reason you will have freezing hands if you are anemic.
Pale skin
This is a symptom of low red blood cells flowing through the bloodstream.
Heavy and painful menstrual periods
This is a symptom for those with a short supply of thyroid hormones
Dizziness or labored breathing
This is a symptom of anemia when the heart is having a hard time delivering enough oxygen to the brain. This makes a person to experience erratic and labored breathing.
A headache
This is a common symptom, especially if you have an iron deficiency. This could lead to a severe headache.
Weight loss
This is an obvious symptom of malnutrition. This is because if you have this condition, you will lose appetite, and therefore it could lead to fewer nutrients. This way, the body will burn the stored fat faster to survive.
Exhaustion
Low energy levels mean that you generally feel fatigued and inability to remain energetic throughout the day.
Sweating
Excessive sweating is one of the first symptoms of low blood sugar in your body. This is because when glucose levels drop, the nervous system prompts the skin to secrete excess moisture.
Fragile fingernails or thin hair
Low levels of thyroid hormone cause hair loss; this is because too many follicles stop functioning properly. Fingernails and toenails become brittle, stiff, and prone to ridges.
Increased urinary frequency
Individuals with bladder infection feel the need to urinate more often than normal people.
Chills
Fever and shivers mean that the infection has reached your kidneys.
Cramping in the abdomen
This happens because of bladder infection, which can be very painful, especially in the abdominal or urethral area. This is because the bladder becomes inflamed.
Weight gain
A sudden weight gain is a common symptom of an underactive thyroid. This is because the body’s metabolism slows down and fails to burn excess stored fat.
How to stop shivering and shaking
Your body may be shivering as a result of being a nervous, hungry, medical condition, among other reasons.
There are many ways to stop shivering, which include lifestyle changes, medical attention, or even home remedies. The following are some of the home remedies you should consider;
1. Practice yoga or meditation
Anxiety and stress may be the cause of the trembling of your body. You may try yoga or meditation to curb stress and anxiety.
Exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming, and deep breathing can also help your body relax.
2. Get a massage
Massage has been proven and is recommended for reducing shivering in people who have essential tremor.
A condition that causes the arms, legs, and head to shiver at all times. Whether your condition is a result of stress and anxiety, you may get some relief by having regular massages.
3. Get enough sleep
Sleeping peacefully improves your mental condition- this helps you bring down your stress levels considerably and stops hand tremors. Teenagers need 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep per night, while adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.
4. B vitamins
Including B vitamins in your diet help calm the nerves to a great extent. These foods include leafy vegetables, egg yolks, beans, and whole grains, among other foods.
What vitamin B2 supplements do we recommend?
- Biotech Pharmacal B2-400 Riboflavin (Check price on Amazon)
- GNC Vitamin B-2 100 MG (Check price on Amazon)
5. Consider how much you eat
Low blood sugar can cause shivering in your hands and legs. If you think the reason for your shivering is low blood sugar, you need to take something that increases sugar levels. These include;
- Eat a piece of hard candy, drink some juice, or chew on a glucose tablet to raise blood sugar
- You can also try a snack like a sandwich 30 minutes before a meal.
6. Take a deep breath
This is because excess adrenaline can cause your body to shake. This is noticeable on your hands and legs.
Deep breath stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is associated with sleep and relaxation. Taking a few deep breaths relaxes your body.
7. Valerian
Valerian is a herb that can help calm your nerves, relax, and sleep peacefully. The following is the procedure on how you can stop shivering using valerian:
- Grind the root of valerian
- Mix it with a few ounces of water
- Keep it for 5 minutes before you consume- this will give positive results on your tremors
References
- Rigor, causes, diagnosis and treatment: https://patient.info/doctor/rigors
- Accompanying symptoms of uncontrolled shaking: http://symptomchecker.webmd.com/multiple-symptoms?symptoms=chills%7Cfever%7Cjoint-aches%7Cshaking-chills-(rigors)&symptomids=51%7C102%7C8%7C202&locations=66%7C66%7C66%7C66
- Body tremors, shaking, trembling, vibrating anxiety symptoms: http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms/body-tremors.shtml
- Treatment options available for shaking hands: http://www.healthline.com/health/treating-shaking-hands