Feeling colder as you get older? Here are some reasons why.

September 5, 2025

Providence Health Team

[6 MIN READ]

There are many different reasons why you may feel cold more often than usual, including the fact that you’re getting older, that you’re taking certain medications or that you have a medical condition.
Your primary care provider will start by asking you questions, such as how long you have felt cold and whether it’s affecting your quality of life.
There are several medical conditions that can cause younger people to feel cold, including hypothyroidism and anemia.

Feeling colder as you get older? Here are some reasons why.

Have you always been one of those people who needs an extra sweater — even in the middle of summer?

Or perhaps you’ve noticed that as you age, you need to bundle up and adjust the thermostat once January rolls around.

Aging can bring many changes to our bodies, including an increased sensitivity to cold. In most cases, this change is normal. However, some health conditions can make you feel colder. It’s essential to address these problems before they turn into serious complications.

Here are some ways to determine if it’s a natural chill or a potential health issue to discuss with your doctor.

Understanding constant cold sensitivity: Why some people feel cold all the time

According to Sunil Adwani, M.D., a Providence internal medicine doctor who treats patients in Manhattan Beach, California, there are many different reasons why people feel cold — and getting older is just one of them.

“There are lots of different reasons why people can feel cold,” he says. “Females tend to feel colder than males. People who are very thin tend to feel colder, probably because they have less insulating fat under the skin.”

If a patient comes into his office with an inexplicable cold sensitivity, Dr. Adwani says he would want to get a thorough medical history before performing any tests. “How long has it been going on for?” he says. “Is it worsening? Is it affecting their quality of life? Are they also experiencing other symptoms? Are they taking certain medications? Those types of questions can help us decide whether this is something that needs further evaluation.”

Why women often feel colder than men

Dr. Adwani points out that women usually have a lower basal metabolic rate — the rate at which your body burns calories to maintain life-sustaining functions while at rest. This means their bodies burn calories at a slower rate and produce less heat.

Women also tend to have less muscle mass than men, says Dr. Adwani. “If you have less muscle, you’re going to be generating less heat,” he says.

What’s more, because of their menstrual cycle, women have hormone fluctuations that can cause their body temperature to vary throughout the month.

Why do you feel colder as you get older?

As you age, there are a few different body changes that can affect your cold tolerance, including:

Your metabolism slows. It’s normal for your metabolic rate to decrease, and along with it, your body’s response to the cold. For example, certain body receptors may not work as quickly to tell your blood vessels to constrict and maintain your body temperature.
The fat layers under the skin start to thin. This fat layer conserves body heat, so you’re more likely to feel cold when it starts to thin.
Your blood vessels lose elasticity. When your blood vessels aren’t as flexible, your circulation decreases. When your blood doesn’t circulate normally, it’s harder for your body to retain heat. This can cause your hands and feet to feel cold.

Medical conditions that cause constant cold feelings

You could attribute feeling cold all the time as a symptom of getting older — but if you’re in your 20s or 30s, that reason doesn’t hold true. Instead, you may have a medical condition that’s causing your cold feeling

Cardiovascular disease

Blood circulation plays a significant role in how your body retains heat. If your blood can’t flow normally through your body, your arms, legs, hands and feet may start to feel cold. This is because your body will prioritize blood flow to critical areas like your brain and heart.

Cardiovascular diseases — including heart failure, coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease (PAD) — can affect how blood flows in your arteries and blood vessels. For example, plaque buildup can restrict and even block blood flow.

Anemia

Anemia is a condition in which you don’t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues throughout your body. When you’re anemic, your body will direct the oxygen-full red blood cells to important organs, such as your brain, kidney or heart. This can leave your skin, hands and feet feeling cold because there’s less blood flow and oxygen coming to those parts of your body.

Kidney disease

Kidneys filter waste out of your blood, and kidney disease can disrupt this process. When waste builds up in the body, your core body temperature can decrease. Severe kidney disease can also cause anemia, which can leave you feeling cold.

Diabetes

Diabetes can cause different health issues that affect your cold sensitivity, including kidney disease and anemia. However, high blood sugar can also damage your nerves, especially in your arms and feet (also called diabetic neuropathy). When the nerves are damaged, your arms and feet may feel cold, numb or tingly.

Additionally, while you may not have diabetes, you could still suffer from insulin resistance, a condition in which the body’s cells become less responsive to the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. “Having low blood sugar can cause you to get cold after eating,” says Dr. Adwani.

Thyroid problems

Thyroid conditions like hypothyroidism affect how your body regulates hormones. Some hormones help control your body’s temperature. When you have a thyroid issue, you may not have enough of these temperature-controlling hormones, which can leave you feeling cold all the time.

Raynaud’s disease

This condition causes the extremities — usually fingers and toes — to become cold and pale in response to temperature and stress. Smaller blood vessels that supply blood to the skin become narrow, which limits blood flow to affected areas.

Medications can increase cold sensitivity, too

You may feel cold as a side effect of a new medication. Beta blockers, which you may take to lower your blood pressure or for certain heart conditions, sometimes cause cold hands and feet. This is because the medicines can reduce blood circulation to your extremities.

According to Dr. Adwani, sedatives and strong pain medications may also have an effect on your tolerance to cold.

When being cold all the time is a problem

If you’re often reaching for another blanket or sweater, it may be time to talk to your doctor, especially if:

Your symptoms are new
Your symptoms get worse
You feel cold when others are comfortable
Feeling cold affects your daily activities

Older adults can lose body heat faster, so it’s crucial to get to the bottom of what’s causing the chill. When ignored, a rapidly dropping body temperature could lead to hypothermia.

If you don’t have a primary care provider, now is the time to establish one. At Providence, we partner closely with you to focus on delivering personalized primary care and family medicine to support lifelong health and wellness. Schedule an appointment today.

Contributing caregiver

Sunil Adwani, M.D., is an internal medicine physician at Providence Manhattan Beach Primary Care in Manhattan Beach, California.

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