With temperatures plummeting in recent weeks and the official start of scarf season, many are feeling the cold even more.
For those who are increasingly sensitive to the cold, even with multiple layers, aging can be a factor.
Dr Elise Dallas, a GP at a London general practice, has looked at six common reasons why people feel cold more intensely as they get older.
He also offers practical advice for staying warm and comfortable as the colder months intensify.
1. Slower metabolism
A slower metabolism makes you feel colder as you age.
“Metabolism slows with age due to loss of lean muscle mass and hormonal changes,” explains Dallas. Thyroid function decreases, especially free T3 levels, which decrease metabolic rate and heat production. Adrenal changes include decreased DHEA (androsterone dehydroepiandrosterone) and altered cortisol rhythms, which can affect energy balance and thermoregulation.
“Thermogenesis, the process of heat production in the body, becomes more efficient. This process includes basal metabolic heat, shivering, and non-shivering mechanisms such as brown fat activation.”
2. Less muscle and fat
Many of us tend to lose muscle and fat later in life, which reduces the body’s insulation.
“Muscle mass is reduced due to sarcopenia, reducing heat production. Subcutaneous fat is also reduced, reducing insulation,” says Dallas. Fat is distributed from the organs to the central regions, which reduces ambient heat.
3. Poor blood circulation
Circulation naturally decreases with age.
“The blood vessels stiffen and the vasodilator becomes less responsive,” says Dallas. Peripheral circulation slows down, especially in the limbs, and reduces heat transfer. Autoregulation of blood flow also weakens, making it harder to stay warm.
4. Chronic conditions
Chronic conditions such as hypothyroidism, anemia, and diabetes can all increase sensitivity to cold in older adults by affecting the body’s ability to produce and circulate heat.
Hypothyroidism reduces metabolic heat production, and anemia reduces tissue oxygenation, reducing energy and cellular heat, explains Dallas. “While diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy and vascular damage, it can impair heat sensation and circulation.
In addition, heart failure reduces cardiac output, restricts blood flow to the skin and organs, and Raynaud’s phenomenon causes excessive vasoconstriction in response to cold.
5. Drug side effects
Due to age-related changes in the body and the frequent use of multiple medications, older people are more prone to side effects.
Diuretics—including thiazide (such as bendroflumethiazide), loop (such as furosemide), and potassium-sparing (such as spironolactone)—can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances and impair thermoregulation, says Dallas. Antidepressants such as SSRIs (eg, sertraline, fluoxetine) and tricyclics (eg, amitriptyline) may affect hypothalamic temperature control and cause vasoconstriction.
In addition, vasodilators such as calcium channel blockers (eg, amlodipine) and alpha-blockers (eg, doxazosin) can impair vascular tone and heat retention, and beta-blockers (eg, bisoprolol) reduce cardiac output and peripheral circulation.
6. Additional factors
A host of other age-related factors all play a role.
“Thinner skin, decreased sweat gland function, lower physical activity, and impaired hypothalamic response all reduce the body’s ability to sense and respond to cold,” adds Dallas.
Consuming fewer calories and reducing the activity of brown fat also helps.
Can exposure to cold temperatures lead to serious health problems for the elderly?
“Yes, exposure to cold temperatures can lead to serious health problems for older adults,” says Dallas. Hypothermia can occur even indoors, and cold stress increases cardiovascular risk, worsens arthritis, and can impair cognition and mobility and increase the risk of falls. Frostbite is also a danger in extreme cold.
What do the elderly do to stay warm in winter?
“Wear thermal layers, including a hat, gloves and socks,” advises Dallas. Also, keep indoor temperatures at least 20°C, use heating blankets or hot water bottles safely, and check for gutters and insulate windows and doors.
Additionally, eat regular, warm meals, stay hydrated, and try to stay active indoors to promote circulation.
