7 Weird Things Cold does to Your Body

It’s freezing cold outside and you are shivering like you’ve got shocked! Not to mention the continuous bathroom trips and the chapped lips which burn non-stop! We get your plight!

7 Weird Things Cold does to Your Body

Winters can be the gloomiest for some while some feel extremely ecstatic and energetic. No matter what your predisposition, there are various ways in which cold affects your body. Now depending on the severity of cold, our body may act differently to fight the cold.

1) Body extremities get super cold!

Our body is built to always maintain a stable core temperature of 37 degrees Celsius (that’s 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). When the temperature in the environment drops, it tightens the blood vessels in arms, hands, feet, and legs and immediately redirects blood away from and towards the vital organs.  As soon as the cold air hits you, your blood vessels contract.

That’s why your hands and feet tend to feel chilly first.  It’s your body’s way of keeping your core temperature up.

2) Frequent urination in winter

All the blood from fingers and toes is in your core, and there’s only so much space in your gut. So the volume receptors talk to your hypothalamus to say, “Hey, maybe you should get rid of some of that fluid—maybe you should pee.”

Thus you end up feeling the need to relieve yourself shortly after being out in the cold. This is the effect of blood gushing into our abdomen from the extremities of your body.

3) Cold makes your tongue work extra time!

A result of moisture evaporating from the lips as soon as the chilly wind hits your face is cracking and drying of lips. Keeping lips moist by licking is very common! However, what most people don’t know is that licking lips only makes the drying worse! Saliva dries up quickly resulting in frequent licking. What’s even worse is that it doesn’t evaporate and increases the chances of infection. Gross ain’t it!

So the next time you go out in cold, protect your lips and remember to keep a good, moisturizing chapstick handy!

4) Burn more Calories!

Let’s hold our horses and understand that it’s not the cold that’s burning the calories like a magical genie, but it’s due to the cold weather that our body needs to work extra hard to maintain the core temperature.

You may have heard working out in winters can torch calories. It’s true as your body has to work harder to maintain body temperature. And when your body works harder, you reap the benefits of increased metabolism. But you aren’t going to get those inches off your waist unless you REALLY sweat it out!

5) The cold is drying you out!

The sweat dries out much faster in winter, thanks to the dry atmosphere. Some might think- No Sweat, No Water Needed. Well, it doesn’t work like that as this leads us to feel we aren’t thirsty and results in dry skin.

Everyone talks about drinking sufficient water and hydrating in summers. However, we often forget to drink enough water as we don’t feel thirsty. This results in dehydration and dry skin.

6) Rashy and red skin

Some people have an allergic reaction to cold, a condition known as cold urticaria, or commonly, “winter bumps”. It’s not a reaction to very cold weather, like frostbite, but rather just dry, cool conditions, which can cause an allergic-type reaction in certain people with sensitive skin.

It’s best to contact a good dermatologist, know your skin, and follow a winter skin regime. After all, we all want soft, supple skin!

7) Cold confuses people!

Once your body goes into a hypothermic state—a core temperature that’s too low—your brain and nervous system have a harder time functioning and maintaining normal thought. The hypothalamus tries all the mechanisms —and when those fail, it becomes unclear what to do next.

People have been found in freezing temperatures with all their clothes off, because the hypothalamus said, ‘OK, well, let’s try dumping heat out there—making people feel hot—and see if that will work.” If the hypothermia becomes severe enough, the hypothalamus can get really out of whack. 

Winters can be long and hard. Make sure to keep yourself warm and hydrated! For more skincare tips during winters, check this out!

If you know of any such weird things your body does in cold temperatures, let us know in the comments below!