Why Do I Have Cold Chills? 6 Causes of Body Chills Without Fever

A walk down a cold, windy street can send a shivery tingle up and down your body, but so can some health conditions, like the flu, kidney stones, or an underactive thyroid.

You get chills when the muscles in your body squeeze and relax to try to make heat. This sometimes happens because you’re cold, but it can also be an attempt by your immune system — the body’s defense against germs — to fight off an infection or illness.

Flu

Your body may use chills to boost its core temperature and kill off the flu virus you’ve caught. This is why fever and chills often happen at the same time. Although you may feel like you are freezing, your body temperature inside could be turned up as high as 104 F.

If flu is the cause of your chills, you might also have symptoms like:

Most of the time, the flu goes away on its own within 2 weeks. During that time, you should rest and drink lots of fluids. Children under the age of 5, adults over 65, and anyone with a long-term health issue should see a doctor right away.

Infection

Just like with the flu virus, your body can turn on the chills in response to other infections. This may help your immune system kick in faster and work better.

Chills are a common symptom of infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTI), and malaria.

Besides chills, an infection can also cause symptoms like:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Sore throat or mouth sores
• Stuffed-up nose
• Shortness of breath
• Stiff neck
• Pain or burning when you pee
• Diarrhea
• Throwing up
• Belly pain
• Redness, soreness, or swelling in one area

See your doctor if you have these symptoms. You may need medication to treat the infection.

Infection Due to a Kidney Stone

You might get chills because of an infection that starts when you have a kidney stone.

Sometimes minerals and salts stick together to form a hard mass inside your kidney called a kidney stone. This is more likely to happen if you don’t drink enough water each day, eat a diet that’s high in protein, or have a high body mass index (BMI.)

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If the kidney stone irritates or blocks your urinary tract, it can cause an infection, which could cause chills.

Other symptoms you might get with kidney stones are:

• Pain in your side, back, belly, or groin
• Pain when you pee
• Pink, red, or brown urine
• Urgent need to pee
• Pee more or less than you usually do
• Cloudy urine that smells funny

Call your doctor right away. If your stone doesn’t pass on its own, you may need surgery or a treatment that can break it into small pieces.

Hypothermia

If your body loses heat faster than it can make it, your body temperature will start to drop. Under normal conditions, it should be around 98.6 F. If it drops below 95 F, you have what’s called hypothermia. Your organs can’t function like they should when they’re that cold. Chills are your body’s attempt to try to warm back up.

Shivering is the first sign of hypothermia. Other symptoms to watch for are:

• Slurred speech
• Slowed, shallow breathing
• Low energy
• Weakened pulse
• Feeling clumsy
• Confusion
• Bright red, cold skin (in babies)

If you think you or someone you know has hypothermia, call 911. Medical treatment may be needed to raise your body temperature back to normal levels.

Underactive Thyroid

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. It makes a hormone that helps your body stay warm and keeps your organs working like they should. If your thyroid doesn’t make enough of this hormone, you have an underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism.

Besides chills without fever, symptoms can include:

There’s no cure for hypothyroidism, but you can control it with medicine. Your doctor might prescribe a daily pill that supplies the hormone your thyroid no longer makes.

Hypoglycemia

You get a condition called hypoglycemia when your blood sugar drops to an unsafe level. This is most likely to happen if you have diabetes and your food and medicine get out of balance. Insulin and the oral diabetes medications called sulfonylureas are the most likely to cause hypoglycemia.

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Although it’s rare, people without diabetes can get hypoglycemia, too.

If you have hypoglycemia, you can have body chills without fever. Other common symptoms are:

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If you catch hypoglycemia early, you can treat it by eating a simple sugar like glucose tablets or gel, hard candies, or juice or sugar soda. If your hypoglycemia is so severe that you become unconscious, a friend or family member that you’re with can inject you with glucagon, a hormone that helps control blood sugar.

If you are at high risk for hypoglycemia, you and your family should know how to recognize and treat it. Always let your doctor know if you think you have hypoglycemia, even if you don’t have diabetes. If left unchecked, it could cause you to have a seizure or pass out.

Treating the flu – WebMD

Influenza is diagnosed on the basis of symptoms that include fever, headache, muscle aches, and respiratory symptoms. COVID-19 has similar symptoms and its important not to confuse the two.Your doctor may take a nasal or throat culture or blood test to help tell if you have the flu or a COVID-19 infection.

What Are the Treatments?

Young, healthy people probably don’t need to be treated for influenza. It will simply run its course in a few days. Over-the-counter medications for symptoms may be helpful. The very young and old and those with other medical problems may benefit from being treated with antiviral medications. Even the young and healthy may benefit from these drugs when they are started within the first two days. People older than 6 months of age should get the annual flu vaccine to prevent the flu.

Conventional Medicine

If you have the flu, doctors usually advise eating nourishing food, resting, and, most importantly, drinking plenty of fluids. Fever causes you to lose a lot of fluid, so you need to replace what is lost by drinking more. If you’re not eating, then taking your fluid in the form of soup may be a good idea. While their sugar content is high, sports drinks that contain electrolytes are also an option. For most people, plain water is usually best or a broth type of soup. It’s likely you won’t feel like doing much activity, so getting extra rest is fine.

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Some over-the-counter medicines may make you feel better. These include decongestants, antihistamines, and pain medicines. Keep in mind that these products may be harmful, particularly for those with heart disease, high blood pressure, or other respiratory problems. Cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under age 4.
Over-the-counter analgesics, or pain medicines, also suppress fevers. However, take them if you feel very uncomfortable. Older people and those with heart and lung disease may also need to suppress the fever to reduce the strain on their heart and lungs. Do not use aspirin in children under the age of 19 because it is associated with Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal complication.

There are antiviral medicines, as well. To treat and prevent both influenza A and B, there are baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza), oseltamivir (Tamiflu), peramivir (Rapivab), and zanamivir (Relenza). Zanamivir is inhaled like an asthma medication. Tamiflu and Xofluza are taken as pills and Rapivab is given in one intravenous dose.
Secondary infections may also need to be treated. If you find that your symptoms aren’t clearing up or seem to be worsening, you may have a secondary infection. The flu makes everyone more susceptible to other infections. See your doctor for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Alternative Medicine

While the scientific evidence of its benefits is sparse, oscillococcinum, a homeopathic mixture, is very popular in Europe as a flu remedy. Other homeopathic preparations have shown some success in treating upper respiratory infections. Be sure your medical doctor knows of everything you are taking — standard medicine and alternatives.

Herbs and Dietary Supplements

Many claims have been made, but there isn’t enough research demonstrating any benefit of many herbs, including garlic and ginseng. Garlic is known to help prevent the blood from clotting, so if you’re on “blood thinners,” it could present a problem.

Garlic’s active ingredient, allicin, can be found in a wide range of supplements. However, recent studies have shown the actual amount you get may vary greatly, and often, you get very little of it. Garlic does have some natural anti-viral properties, but has no proven effectiveness in the prevention or treatment of the flu. If you feel that garlic is important for your health, it’s safe, the fresh variety may be the best choice.
There are few well-designed studies on how these herbs and supplements treat and prevent influenza. One trial of ginseng suggested that it may enhance the effect of the flu vaccine, but more research is needed.

There are some studies to suggest that Echinacea may enhance your immune system, but evidence is mixed on its ability to treat or prevent the flu. Be sure to consult your medical doctor before you start taking this supplement, because some people may be allergic to it.
Drinking ginger tea several times a day may bring relief for flu sufferers. Herbs including elderflower, myrrh, willow bark, rose hips, honeysuckle flowers, and boneset have also been suggested for relief from the many symptoms that accompany the flu.

Acupuncture

Raised body temperature, respiration, pulse, and blood pressure may be lowered through acupuncture treatment in some cases of severe colds and flu. The World Health Organization supports the use of acupuncture for respiratory and infectious complications of the flu.

Why Does My Neck Hurt? Neck Pain Causes & Treatment

What Is Neck Pain?

Neck pain is any time your neck hurts. It’s a common problem with lots of causes.

Your neck has a tough job. It holds up the same weight as a bowling ball all day long. The bones at the top of your spine, along with your muscles and ligaments, support your head, which weighs about 11 pounds.

It can be a delicate balance. Things like sleeping wrong and bad posture can cause neck pain, as more than one-quarter of American adults can tell you. It isn’t usually a symptom of a more serious health problem.

Neck Pain Symptoms

If your neck hurts, you may notice other symptoms including:

• Pain that gets worse when you hold your head a certain way while working on a computer, driving, or doing other tasks
• Muscle tightness or spasms
• Trouble moving your neck or head
• Headache

Neck Pain Causes

Many things can cause your neck to hurt:

• Poor posture
• Repetitive motion
• Bad sleep habits
• Gritting your teeth
• Carrying a heavy shoulder bag or purse
• Pinched nerves
• Sports or other injuries
• Car accidents involving whiplash
• Arthritis
• Infection
• Tumors
• A fractured or collapsed vertebra, which can be related to osteoporosis
• A slipped (herniated) disk
• Fibromyalgia
• Narrowed spaces within your spine (spinal stenosis)

Neck Pain Diagnosis

Call your doctor if your neck pain is severe, doesn’t respond to treatment, gets worse over time, or includes numbness, weakness, or tingling and pain in your arms and legs.

Your doctor may ask:

• When did the pain start?
• Have you been injured?
• Do you have numbness or weakness in your arms or hands?
• Does moving your neck in a certain way make things better or worse?
• Does coughing or sneezing make the pain worse?

Your doctor has many tools to figure out what’s wrong. They could order X-rays, an MRI, CT scan, EMG (electromyography), or blood tests.

Neck Pain Treatment

Treatments could include muscle relaxants, physical therapy, a padded neck collar, or traction.

In rare situations, you may need shots of cortisone or even surgery.

With treatment, your neck will usually stop hurting in a few days. Use medicines like acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen to ease pain. Put an ice pack on your neck for the first 2 to 3 days to help lower swelling. After that, use moist heat, like a hot shower or a heating pad, to help it heal. There are also exercises you can do at home (or in front of your computer at work) to gently stretch your neck muscles.

You can also visit a chiropractor or get a neck massage for short-term relief.

Neck Pain Prevention

Fix your posture to fix your neck pain. Sit or stand with your shoulders directly over your hips and your head straight. Adjust your chair or desktop so your computer monitor is at eye level. Take frequent breaks.

Don’t tuck your phone between your ear and shoulder. Use a speakerphone or headset instead.

Try not to carry heavy bags with shoulder straps.

Try a different pillow if you’re waking up with a stiff neck. Some people find that a relatively flat one, or one with built-in neck support, works best. Sleeping on your back or side, not your belly, also allows your neck muscles and ligaments to get the rest they need.

Malaria: Symptoms & Types

What Is Malaria?

Malaria is a serious and sometimes life-threatening tropical disease that spreads through parasites. It kills more than 445,000 people a year, many of them children in Africa.

Although malaria is almost wiped out in the United States, you can still get the disease when you travel to other parts of the world. The United States has about 1,700 malaria cases every year from immigrants and travelers returning from countries where malaria is more common.

These countries have climates that are hot enough for the malaria parasites and the mosquitoes that carry them to thrive. Before you travel, check the CDC’s website to see whether your destination is a hotspot for malaria. You may have to take pills before, during, and after your trip to lower your chances of getting it.

Malaria Causes and Risk Factors

Malaria is caused by plasmodium parasites, which are carried by anophelesmosquitoes.

Only female mosquitoes spread the malaria parasites. When a mosquito bites a person who has malaria, it drinks the person’s blood, which contains the parasites. When the mosquito bites another person, it injects the parasites into that person. That’s how the disease spreads.

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Once the parasites enter your body, they travel to your liver, where they multiply. They invade your red blood cells, which carry oxygen. The parasites get inside them, lay their eggs, and multiply until the red blood cell bursts. This releases more parasites into your bloodstream. As they attack more of your healthy red blood cells, this infection can make you very sick.

Malaria isn’t contagious, meaning it can’t be spread from person to person. But it can be spread in the following ways:

• From a pregnant mother to their unborn baby
• Sharing needles
• Blood transfusions
• Organ transplant

Malaria is most common in warm-weather climates. It’s found most often in:

• Africa
• South and Southeast Asia
• The Middle East
• Central and South America 
• Oceania

Types of Malaria

There are five species of plasmodiumparasites that affect humans. Two of them are considered the most dangerous:

P. falciparum.This is the most common malaria parasite in Africa, and it causes the most malaria-related deaths in the world. P. falciparum multiplies very quickly, causing serious blood loss and clogged blood vessels.

P. vivax. This is the malaria parasite most commonly found outside of sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Asia and Latin America. This species can lie dormant, then rise up to infect your blood months or years after the mosquito bite.

Symptoms

Symptoms for malaria usually start about 10-15 days after the infected mosquito bite. Along with high fever, shaking chills, and sweating, they can include:

Throwing up or feeling like you’re going to

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Because the signs are so similar to cold or flu symptoms, it might be hard to tell what you have at first.
• Malaria symptoms don’t always show up within 2 weeks, especially if it’s a P. vivax infection.
• People who live in areas with lots of malaria cases may become partially immune after being exposed to it throughout their lives. But this can change if they move to a place where they’re not around the parasite.

When to Call a Doctor About Malaria

Given how quickly malaria can become life-threatening, it’s important to get medical care as quickly as possible. Young children, infants, and pregnant women have an especially high chance for severe cases of malaria.

Seek care if you get a high fever while living in or traveling to an area that has a high chance for malaria. You should still get medical help even if you see the symptoms many weeks, months, or a year after your travel.

Malaria Diagnosis

A blood test can show if you have malaria, but your doctor will also ask you about your medical history and any recent travel and do a physical exam. 

The blood test can tell your doctor:

• If the parasite is in your blood
• If certain medications will work against the parasite
• If your body has ever made antibodies to fight off malaria 

Malaria Treatment

The treatment your doctor recommends will depend on things like:

• The type of parasite you have
• How bad your symptoms are
• The geographic area where you got infected
• Your age 
• Whether you’re pregnant

Medications doctors use to treat malaria include:

Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine. Your doctor may recommend one of these drugs if your symptoms aren’t serious and you’re in an area where the parasite hasn’t become resistant to chloroquine. 

Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). This combines two medicines that work in different ways. They’re used to treat milder cases of malaria or as part of a treatment plan for more serious cases. 

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Atovaquone-proguanil, artemether-lumefantrine. These combinations are other options in areas where the parasite has become resistant to chloroquine. They also can be given to children.

Mefloquine. This medication is another option if chloroquine can’t be used, but it’s been linked to rare but serious side effects related to your brain and is only used as a last resort.

Artesunate. If your symptoms are severe, your doctor may recommend this drug as treatment for the first 24 hours, then follow it with 3 days of artemisinin-based combination therapy. 

Some parasites that cause malaria have become resistant to almost all the medicines used to treat the illness, so researchers are always looking for new drugs that work.

Malaria Complications

Some people are more likely to have serious health problems if they get malaria, including:

• Young children and infants
• Older adults
• People who travel from places that don’t have the vaccine
• Pregnant women and their unborn children

These health problems can include:

5 Reasons Why You Might Have the Chills

Are chills serious? Shivering and goose bumps can accompany a wide range of conditions, from a too-cold environment to cancer.

Maintaining our core temperature is one of the body’s most basic functions, and when that temperature is off — or when our body thinks it’s off — we get the chills.

“Chills occur when the muscles contract and relax in order to make heat,” says Rose Taroyan, MD, MPH, a family medicine physician at Keck Medicine of USC and clinical assistant professor of family medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “This occurs when you are cold, but it can also be your body’s defense mechanism in fighting an infection.”

Everyone knows the sensation of getting the chills when your environment is too cold. That’s usually a signal to put on more layers or turn up the heat. But there are many underlying medical conditions that can cause them, too. Read on for some common — and not so common — causes of chills.

1. You have a viral or bacterial infection.

When chills are accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, body aches or fatigue, they’re more likely associated with a systemic infection, such as flu or pneumonia.

“Chills boost your body’s core temperature when your immune system attempts to fight off infection,” Taroyan explains. “Your body temperature increases, even though you might feel cold. If you have a viral infection, you will usually notice other symptoms along with chills, such as sore throat, cough, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. Most of the time, it can be self-limiting and will resolve within 2 weeks. It’s important to get plenty of rest and increase your fluid intake.”

2. You have low blood sugar.

Although many people feel a bit shaky and irritable when they need to eat, true hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, most often occurs in people who have diabetes.

“One of the symptoms of hypoglycemia is a feeling of shakiness, which may mimic chills,” Taroyan says. “Hypoglycemia requires immediate treatment to get blood sugar levels back to normal.”

Defined as blood glucose of less than 70 milligrams per deciliter, hypoglycemia can cause a variety of other symptoms, including sweating, confusion, a rapid heartbeat, blurry vision, lightheadedness and drowsiness.

If you have diabetes and you notice these symptoms, follow the “15-15” rule: Have 15 grams of simple carbs, such as a glucose tablet, juice, honey or hard candy, and check your blood glucose again in 15 minutes. Then eat a meal, but don’t overeat, or your blood sugar will spike.

3. You’re having a panic attack.

Chills can occur if you have a profound or intense emotional reaction to a situation, according to Taroyan. “Emotions that might cause chills include fear or anxiety,” she says.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, nearly 30% of all adults will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. A panic attack can cause a combination of physical as well as psychological symptoms, including chills, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, dizziness and chest pain. Because of the severity of the symptoms, a panic attack sometimes causes people to think they’re having a heart attack.

If you’ve never had a panic attack before, seek medical attention. If you’ve been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, psychotherapy (“talk” therapy) and medication can help.

4. You have malaria.

Symptoms of malaria, a disease spread by infected mosquitos, can mimic those of a cold or flu. In addition to chills, they can include fever, sweats, head and body aches, nausea and fatigue. A simple blood test can identify the presence of the malaria parasite, but since malaria is relatively rare in the United States, your doctor might not immediately test for it. If you’ve traveled to regions where the disease is common, such as sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, parts of India and parts of Central and South America within the last 12 months, be sure to mention it when you’re being evaluated, even if you took antimalarial medications.

5. You have leukemia.

Chills can also be a sign of blood cancers, including leukemia. Symptoms of leukemia may include swelling of the lymph nodes, along with fever, chills, fatigue, loss of appetite, night sweats, abdominal pain and recurring infections. If you have a fever and chills that just won’t go away, see your doctor, in case it’s something more serious.

Having the chills may be nothing more than the body’s attempt to warm you up, but if they’re accompanied by other symptoms, that’s the time to seek medical attention. “Please schedule an appointment with your primary care physician for further evaluation,” Taroyan advises.

by Tina Donvito

Do you have questions or concerns about chills? One of our expert family medicine physicians can help. If you’re in Southern California, request an appointment or call (800) USC-CARE (800-872-2273).

Chills without fever: 5 potential causes

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Chills are the sensation of feeling cold. They often occur alongside a fever, which is when a person’s body temperature is higher than normal. However, a person can also experience chills without a fever, and there can be many different reasons for this.

Potential causes include:

• being cold
• having hypothyroidism, which causes more sensitivity to cold
• infection
• doing intensive exercises in the cold
• having anemia

This article looks at these causes, what a person can do to resolve them, and when they should see a doctor.

Share on PinterestA person may have chills with no fever due to wearing wet clothes and being outside in windy conditions.

The most common reason for a person to have chills with no fever is because of cold weather.

If a person is not wearing sufficient layers and the air temperature is low, they may experience chills.

If a person is wearing wet clothes, they will feel cold more quickly. This is because the water in their clothes evaporates, using the heat energy in their body for this process.

Windy conditions can also make a person feel cold. When the wind blows cold air, it removes warm air trapped around a person’s skin or under clothes.

Risks

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if a person’s body temperature falls too low, they can develop hypothermia. Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening condition that can make a person confused, tired, and clumsy.

If a person stays too cold for too long, they can fall unconscious, and may eventually die.

Remedies

By wearing plenty of layers, a person can insulate themselves from the cold and put a barrier between their body and the wind.

Replacing wet clothes with dry clothes is also useful.

Hypothyroidism is when a person’s thyroid gland does not produce enough of the hormone that regulates their metabolism.

For some people, this can mean they are more sensitive to the cold and may feel chills more frequently.

Symptoms

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), other symptoms can include:

• tiredness
• gaining weight
• a puffy face
• muscle and joint pain
• constipation
• dry skin
• thinning hair
• not sweating as much as usual
• irregular or heavy menstrual periods
• fertility issues
• depression
• slow heart rate
• an enlarged thyroid

A person should speak to a doctor if they have these symptoms.

Diagnosis and treatment

According to the NIDDK, a doctor can do blood tests to see if a person has an underactive thyroid. If so a person can take medication to replace the hormone that their body is not producing.

A person will often experience chills and a fever at the same time. However, sometimes the experience of chills can occur before a person gets a fever.

This is possible in response to any infection, but it is a classic symptom of malaria.

Symptoms of malaria

According to the CDC, malaria can have three stages:

• a cold stage, where a person experiences chills
• a hot stage, where they have a high temperature
• a sweating stage

If a person suspects they have malaria, for example, because they live in or recently visited a country where infection can occur, then they should speak to a doctor immediately.

Treatment for infections

According to the CDC, a person’s body can usually resolve most common infections, such as flu, by itself. However, if a person’s symptoms do not get better, become significantly worse, or they are at high risk of flu-related complications, they should speak to a medical professional.

If a person does intensive exercise in cold weather, they might feel chills when they finish the activity. This is in part because a person’s body produces heat when they are exercising.

How exercise affects body temperature

When a person stops exercising they will quickly get cold, particularly if they are not wearing sufficient layers to keep them warm after stopping.

Doing intensive exercise may also disrupt a person’s ability to regulate their body temperature. This means they may feel chills more than they otherwise might.

Prevention

To avoid chills after intensive exercise, a person should quickly replace any wet clothing with dry clothing and put on extra layers until they feel warm.

Spinach is rich in iron and can help ward off anemia.

Anemia is when a person does not have enough iron in their blood.

The most common symptoms include waking up tired, looking pale, and always feeling cold with chills.

A person may develop anemia due to poor diet, age, chronic illness, or medication. Women are more at risk than men.

To find out if someone has anemia, a doctor will carry out a blood test.

Treatment

If someone has anemia, their doctor may recommend taking iron supplements or, in severe cases, a blood transfusion.

There is a selection of iron supplements available for purchase online.

Prevention

Eating a diet rich in iron could help ward off anemia. A diet rich in iron could include:

• spinach — squeeze on some citrus, such as lemon, to help release the iron
• red meat
• oysters
• peanut butter
• pumpkin or squash seeds
• kidney beans and lentils
• dried fruits

If a person experiences chills because they are in a cold climate or are experiencing the early signs of a mild fever, they probably will not need to see a doctor.

However, if a person experiences other symptoms, or they frequently feel cold even when it is warm, and they are wearing many layers, they may have an underlying health issue. A doctor can help diagnose what this is and suggest appropriate treatment.

There is a variety of reasons why a person may experience chills without a fever.

Identifying what is causing the chills will enable a person to either take steps to resolve their chills themselves, or decide if they need to speak to a doctor to get treatment.

The Most Common Causes of Chills, With or Without Fever

• Body chills are commonly caused by cold external temperatures, or changing internal temperatures, such as when you have a fever. 
• When you have chills without a fever, causes may include low blood sugar, anxiety or fear, or intense physical exercise. 
• To get rid of chills, you’ll need to treat the root cause, such as taking fever-reducing medications or boosting blood sugar levels. 
• This article was medically reviewed by Jason R. McKnight, MD, MS, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine. 
• This story is part of Insider’s guide to Fever. 

Chills can be caused by cold external temperatures, a fever or changing internal temperatures, and other medical conditions like hypoglycemia or anxiety. 

They are often accompanied by shivering or shaking, and raised bumps on your skin known as “goosebumps.” Here’s what you need to know about the most common causes of chills and how to relieve them. 

What causes chills? 

Chills are your body’s attempt to regulate or raise your internal temperature. 

For example, when you’re exposed to a cold environment, your internal body temperature decreases. As a result, your body shivers to generate heat, which can be experienced as chills. 

Chills also commonly occur with a fever, and in this case, your body shivers as a defense mechanism against harmful pathogens. 

Infectious bacteria and viruses thrive at normal body temperature, which is about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. When you have an infection, your body responds with chills, which raises your internal temperature, and slows down the reproduction rate of the virus or bacteria. 

That’s why chills are a common symptom of many viral and bacterial infections, such as: 

• Flu
• Pneumonia
• COVID-19
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Malaria
• Strep throat
• Sinus infection

Chills without fever 

Cold temperatures or fevers aren’t the only causes of chills. Other causes include:

• Low blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar levels trigger your body’s stress response, which can result in chills or shaking. Other symptoms of hypoglycemia include confusion, sweating, fatigue, and an irregular or fast heartbeat. 
• An intense emotional reaction. Fear or anxiety can cause your body to sweat, which can then result in chills, since sweating lowers your internal temperature. Intense feelings of anxiety also cause your body to go into a “fight or flight” mode and release adrenaline. A surge in adrenaline can cause you to shiver or experience chills.
• Extreme physical exertion. As you exercise, your body temperature rises and your body produces sweat to prevent overheating. After a long run or another strenuous exercise, your core temperature drops. This drop, combined with a layer of sweat against the skin, can cause you to shiver as your body tries to return to a normal temperature. 

How to get rid of chills 

If you’re experiencing chills due to a cold environment, then they should stop once you warm yourself up, says Nate Favini, MD, Medical Lead of Forward, a preventive primary care practice. 

But if your chills are associated with a bacterial or viral infection, treating your fever will likely  resolve your chills, says Leo Nissola, MD, an immunologist in California. 

To break a fever, you can take over-the-counter medication, like Tylenol or Ibuprofen, which are common fever reducers that decrease inflammation and may help mitigate chills. 

Chills themselves are not necessarily dangerous, though a high fever can be. You should seek medical care if your temperature reaches 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, or your fever doesn’t respond to fever reducing medications, as this can be a sign of a serious illness that needs medical attention. 

If you’re experiencing chills for other reasons, like low blood sugar, treating the underlying cause will often resolve the issue. For example, to immediately treat a hypoglycemic attack, Nissola recommends consuming sugar, like fruit juice. 

To stop a panic attack with chills, you can practice deep breathing or relaxation techniques. 

If you experience chills after vigorous exercise, you should change out of your sweaty clothes as soon as you can after your workout and put on warm, dry clothes to regulate your body temperature. 

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A chill is understood as a subjective sensation of a person when he feels cold, malaise and literally shakes with a small tremor. As a rule, chills accompany various acute respiratory viral infections and is clearly manifested during the period when the body temperature rises, and the vessels cannot cope with this and spasm. But what if there is a chill, but there is no fever? And what measures can be used to combat it – in the material of the AiF.ru

This is not a disease

In essence, chills are not an independent disease, but only a symptom. This is how the reaction to sudden changes in temperature and metabolic disorders is expressed.

There are several reasons a person develops chills. Among them:

• The man just froze
• Colds and other acute respiratory viral infections
• Infection and poisoning
• Severe stress
• Allergic reaction
• Hypotension or hypertension
• VSD
• Problems with the work of the endocrine system, for example, in the presence of diabetes
• Menopause or menstruation

“Chills rarely come on their own.In any case, it is accompanied by some sensations. So, for example, a person can suddenly feel tired, muscles or joints begin to ache, he wants to sleep, he sometimes has a headache and cold sweats, ”says immunologist Anna Shulyaeva .

Infection or hormones?

As a rule, they try to determine the cause of the onset of chills by concomitant symptoms. So, if these are infectious diseases, then the person will feel all the symptoms of intoxication.“In addition to chills, weakness, lethargy, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders and others appear. If we are talking about viral pathologies, which for the most part are characterized by the word cold, then weakness, lethargy, a feeling of fatigue, a constant desire to sleep and other nuances characteristic of ARVI – a runny nose, sore throat, etc. will appear here, ”he lists immunologist.

If we are talking about hypothermia, VSD, drop or increase in pressure, then the matter is in vasospasm.“The vasospasm occurs abruptly, they shrink, the blood circulates worse, the body does not receive enough energy, and small tremors begin,” says Anna Shulyaeva.

If we are talking about menopause, then the reason is hormones. “Due to a decrease in the level of hormones, the body begins to rebuild, fluctuations give both hot flashes (a feeling of heat) and chills,” the immunologist explains. Chills that occur during menstruation also have a hormonal cause.

Stressful situations can also affect the body in strange ways.A person will feel agitation, constantly nervous, be in a state close to a breakdown, hysterics, against the background of which, in addition, chills begin to beat him. Here, the cause of the appearance of small tremors is vasospasm, which, due to constant nervous tension, cannot relax in any way. “Parallel symptoms with chills may appear bleeding from the nose, fever, vomiting, pain in the heart, in pain that radiates to the back or shoulders, and others,” said Shulyaeva.

How to handle

If the chill appears for the first time and nothing else bothers you, you should not panic.“Here it will be enough to drink warm, not hot tea, you can go to bed with lemon. You can also use a heating pad to keep warm. If symptoms progress, you should see a doctor. If any changes occur abruptly, for example, the pressure drops or rises sharply, as well as other disturbing symptoms appear, an ambulance should be called, ”says the immunologist.

If the spasms do not occur for the first time, i.e. some vascular manifestations have already been, for example, with VSD, and the person knows about them, then you can take a drug to relax the vessels, the immunologist notes.The situation should improve. “But if the chills do not go away within 24 hours and are getting worse, and parallel symptoms intensify and other secondary manifestations appear, you should visit a specialist as soon as possible,” says Anna Shulyaeva.

90,000 causes of occurrence, under what diseases occurs, diagnostics and methods of treatment

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-medication.In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should be prescribed only by the attending physician. For a diagnosis and correct treatment, you should contact your doctor.

Chills: causes of occurrence, for what diseases it occurs, diagnosis and methods of treatment.

Definition

Chills are a feeling of coldness, accompanied by the appearance of goose bumps, muscle tremors, and pallor of the skin.With chills, frequent muscle contractions, vasoconstriction and a slowdown in skin microcirculation occur, respectively, heat transfer decreases and a feeling of chilliness arises. In most cases, chills are encountered with an increase in body temperature, but this symptom can occur for other reasons, many of which require immediate medical attention.

Varieties of chills

The most important for diagnosis is to determine the relationship of chills with body temperature:

1. chills associated with increased body temperature;
2. chills occurring at normal body temperature;
3. chills caused by hypothermia.

Distinguish by duration:

1. constant chills – lasting more than an hour;
2. short-term chills – lasting several minutes.

The frequency is distinguished:

1. One-time chills – occurs in infectious diseases with an acute onset, such as pneumonia, tonsillitis, flu; with allergic reactions and some other response of the body, for example, with transfusion of blood components.
2. Multiple chills – alternation of fever with periods of normal temperature (typical for malaria, relapsing typhus).

Possible causes of chills

The most common cause of chills is infection , which causes fever.

Fever is the body’s autoimmune response to colds, flu, etc. It is known that an increased body temperature makes it difficult for viruses to multiply and allows the immune system to fight disease more effectively.

The brain receives a signal to increase body temperature, after which the process of heat production intensifies in the body and heat transfer decreases, at this moment chills occur.

A rare but dangerous infectious disease – malaria , transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles . Malaria is accompanied by a high fever and intense chills that come on suddenly and last up to two hours.

Patients who have recently returned from tropical countries and complain of fever with chills should be examined for malaria.

Do not forget that not only infectious diseases, but also oncological process can cause chills. In this case, the patient also has a decrease in body weight, sweating, especially at night, increased fatigue, and decreased appetite.

Chills can result from severe hypothermia . In this condition, the blood vessels narrow, not only blood flow in the body slows down, but also metabolic processes.

Not the most common, but still occurring in medical practice, the cause of chills can be Raynaud’s syndrome , characterized by short-term spasms of the vessels of the terminal phalanges of the hands and feet.This condition is more often recorded in women, and the provoking factor is cold.

As for the appearance of chills at normal body temperature, there are also many reasons here.

Endocrinological disorders and diseases . For example, for patients with insufficient thyroid function, complaints of chills are not uncommon. Patients with diabetes mellitus may feel chilly at the time of a sharp drop in glucose levels. In women, the cause of the chills is sometimes hormonal imbalance during menopause.

Chills can be one of the symptoms of anemia – a disease accompanied by a decrease in the number of red blood cells (erythrocytes) and hemoglobin contained in them.

Often, chills occur in response to an increase in or a decrease in blood pressure . In this case, in addition to the chill, the patient will be disturbed by dizziness, severe weakness, nausea, vomiting.

Chills without fever can be a symptom of chronicity of the infectious process .

People with body weight deficit (body mass index less than 18.5 kg / m2) often complain of chills. To calculate the body mass index, you need to divide the body weight in kilograms by the height in meters, previously squared.

In some cases stress, psycho-emotional stress and heavy physical activity cause chills against the background of normal body temperature.

Chills can be an adverse reaction to certain medications , therefore, when contacting a doctor, you should report all medications you are taking.

Thus, chills occur with the following diseases :

1. Acute respiratory diseases (influenza, ARVI, coronavirus).
2. Acute infectious diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract (sinusitis, tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess, lobar pneumonia).
3. Bacterial endocarditis.
4. Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the digestive system (bacterial gastroenteritis, rotavirus infection, acute pancreatitis).
5. Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower urinary tract (cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis).
6. Diseases of the endocrine system (hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus).
7. Hypertensive crisis.
8. Cancer diseases.
9. Tuberculosis.
10. Malaria.
11. Allergic reaction.
12. Hypothermia.
13. Anemia.
14. Stress, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder.

Which doctor should I contact if I have a chill

If a chill occurs against a background of high fever, especially in elderly patients or young children, hypertensive crisis, a sharp drop in blood sugar, an allergic reaction, then an emergency call for an ambulance may be required.

Since chills are a symptom of many diseases, then first of all it is worth contacting a general practitioner who will conduct an initial examination and decide which narrow specialist to refer the patient to.Consultation of the following specialists may be required: gastroenterologist, hematologist, endocrinologist, infectious disease specialist, oncologist, nephrologist, neurologist.

Diagnostics and examinations with chills

When a patient complains of chills, the doctor collects a detailed history, finds out if the chill is accompanied by fever, conducts a thorough physical examination of the patient in order to find an infectious focus, finds out what other symptoms bother the patient, learns whether the patient is taking any medications.

Depending on the alleged cause of the onset of chills, in order to clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe the following examinations:

• clinical blood test with an expanded leukocyte formula allows you to identify inflammatory changes in various infectious-inflammatory, allergic diseases, to exclude anemia;

Chills without fever Causes – How to get rid of chills, pain and weakness

Surely every person has met during his life such people who are constantly freezing.Even in the summer, when everyone around them strives to “bare” to the maximum, so that it is not so hot, these men and women can wrap themselves in woolen sweaters and wear tight trousers. Constant chills without fever is a feature that is most often inherent in girls and women of asthenic physique. Nevertheless, strong representatives of the stronger sex, at first glance, are simply full of health, sometimes suffer from chills.

Why is this happening? First of all, it should be noted that chills and weakness in themselves are not a disease – they are nothing more than symptoms.They may indicate that the patient has an endocrine or infectious disease, as well as a benign or malignant neoplasm in the body. In addition, chills often bother those people in whose body an inflammatory process develops, which is accompanied by suppuration.

Most common causes of chills

The first thought that appears in a person who has a headache, chills and weakness is that he is sick with ARVI or the flu.The patient’s body has to generate a large amount of heat, therefore, in such patients, in most cases, the temperature rises. These symptoms may be accompanied by a runny nose, headache, bone aches, and other signs of illness. In no case should you suffer discomfort on your legs! Seek medical attention and start treatment as soon as possible.

Often, a feeling of coldness in people with a hypersensitive nervous system is accompanied by intense excitement.In addition, it may be due to fear. This is a transient symptom – as soon as a person is able to relax and calm down, he stops freezing. In many cases, chills without fever are a common companion of those people whose working blood pressure is below normal. In addition, in women, chills can be caused by the first days of the menstrual cycle, as well as the beginning of pregnancy.

Often the cause of the chills is all kinds of disturbances in the patient’s peripheral circulation.Especially many of these people live in regions for which damp cold weather is the norm. In such patients, the blood supply to the fingers of the upper and lower extremities is reduced. Visually, this can be determined by the redness and swelling of the skin. Symptoms are accompanied by severe itching.

Firsthand, the unpleasant sensations that accompany the chills are familiar to people who have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. In addition, this symptom may indicate that the patient has other types of endocrine diseases.For example, in patients with insufficient thyroid function, the following symptoms may join chills and headaches:

• hair loss up to baldness;
• a sharp increase in body weight up to obesity;
• mood swings from complete euphoria to hysteria and depression;
• excessively dry skin on the face and body;
• weakness, drowsiness, decreased performance, etc.

The feeling of coldness is associated with insufficient production of hormones by the gland, the consequence of which is a violation of thermoregulation.In addition, similar symptoms are often observed in women aged 50 and older. This is due to menopause.

Finally, patients with VSD often suffer from chills and weakness. They can get chilly even in July when everyone is wearing light dresses, shorts, tank tops and flip-flops. The fact is that in people suffering from vegetative-vascular dystonia, thermoregulation can be seriously impaired. Such patients need to visit saunas and baths more often, and also start every morning with a contrast shower.In the cold season, swimming in an ice hole can help them strengthen blood vessels and improve thermoregulation. Finally, a massage course conducted by a qualified specialist can act as an “ambulance” for such people and temporarily relieve them of their chills.

Please note that the above methods of improving the body are not suitable for persons suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

How to get rid of chills?

If the chills are provoked by the penetration of a viral infection into the body, then all efforts must be devoted to treating the disease.Follow the treatment regimen prescribed by your doctor and follow all his recommendations. Bed rest in combination with taking pharmaceuticals, including antipyretics, gargling and drinking plenty of fluids, will help get rid of all manifestations of the disease in a matter of days.

How to get rid of chills provoked by any endocrine diseases? To do this, you need to consult a doctor, undergo an examination and begin treatment of the identified malfunctions in the body under the strict guidance of a specialist.In our private clinic in Ryazan, the best endocrinologists of the city, as well as doctors of other specialties, receive patients every day. The diagnostic department “ON CLINIC in Ryazan” is equipped with the latest medical technology. The examination with us will not take much time and will allow you to find out everything about how your body works!

If the cause of the chills is stress or intense excitement on the eve of any event, then hot tea will help you relax, calm down and warm up, preferably herbal tea with lemon balm or chamomile.Alternatively, you can take a mild sedative such as valerian. But do not abuse the drug intake – see your doctor and get tested! Based on its results, the doctor will prescribe effective treatment for you.

Be that as it may, constant chills are not just a feature of the body, but rather a symptom that something is wrong in its work. Make an appointment with us, and our qualified specialists will be able to identify the cause of the chills and eliminate it!

90,000 Chills – causes, diseases, diagnosis, prevention and treatment – Likar24

Chills are a subjective feeling of coldness caused by sharp spasms of the subcutaneous vessels and cooling of the body.Usually a slight tremor appears. This symptom accompanies a person’s desire to lie down and sleep, and a timely response to various provoking environmental factors may worsen. Chills can occur with both elevated and normal body temperature.

If at night a person feels chills without fever, most likely, the reasons lie in the state of the nervous system, age and gender. So, as a result of a nightmare, the child wakes up in fright and feels chills.And the muscles of men, for example, voluntarily relax after exercise, resulting in a feeling of chills.

Let’s highlight the key causes of chills:

1. Prolonged hypothermia. Cold causes the vessels to contract in order to retain heat inside the body. The body responds by intensely contracting and relaxing the muscles, again to keep warm.
2. Extreme physical activity. When a person is actively involved in any kind of sports, the muscles generate a lot of heat, so the body heats up.The body uses perspiration to cool it down. However, due to the temperature difference between the skin and the surrounding air, chills can occur.
3. Endocrine Disorders. A state of chills occurs due to a lack of hormones, the body simply cannot effectively regulate thermoregulation, so the body tries to maintain the temperature, while causing a spasm in the vessels.
4. Medication side effects. A number of drugs can cause excessive sweating and chills. An incorrect combination of drugs and their overdose can provoke such a condition.
5. Menses and menopause. As a result of significant fluctuations in the hormonal background, the woman’s thermal regime is disturbed. During menopause, you are worried about hot flashes, bouts of cold sweat, an internal tremor is felt, it is impossible to cope with uncontrolled chills. During critical days, the systemic circulation is disturbed, the volume of blood flow increases.
6. Hypoglycemia (a sharp drop in blood sugar). Mainly arises as a result of physical or psychological stress.During hypoglycemia, acute weakness is felt, including muscle weakness. As a result, exhausted muscles may begin to tremble finely, at which point chills appear.
7. ARVI. In the presence of an infectious disease, chills are not the only symptom. The patient may feel nauseous, haunted by migraine attacks, vomiting and diarrhea are possible.
8. Chronic hypertension. In this case, chills are a harbinger of another attack of arterial hypertension, if vasodilator drugs are taken in time, it can be avoided.
9. Severe emotional stress. It can provoke dysfunction of internal organs and systems, which are prone to chronic course.
10. Allergic reaction. The symptom will not go away until the main allergen is eliminated from the body. In this case, additional symptoms are present: rash, itching, Quincke’s edema, etc.

Diagnostics should begin with a survey and external examination of the patient. Usually, the doctor prescribes to pass general tests of urine, blood, and bacteriological culture to detect the presence of infection.

In cardiology, the main methods of hardware diagnostics are: electrocardiography, phonocardiography, ultrasound, angiocardiography and probing of the heart cavities.

During what diseases does it manifest itself?

Sometimes the causes of chills without fever can be pathological. The patient may be sick with ARVI, flu and colds, and have hormonal disorders. Also, this condition is noted with a jump in blood sugar or diabetes mellitus.

Chills can manifest themselves during a common panic or panic attack, arterial hypertension.Sometimes this condition occurs due to drug intoxication. Often, chills occur in the presence of vegetative-vascular dystonia, then the patient is characterized by cold extremities, rather poor tone, pallor of the skin.

The state of chills happens with pathologies of the thyroid gland, because it is this organ that is responsible for the thermoregulation of the body.

In case of chills with symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, flu or their absence, consult a physician. When this problem is accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea, you need to consult a gastroenterologist, and in case of a malfunction in the endocrine system and hormonal imbalance, visit an endocrinologist.

To prevent chills again costs:

• to carry out hardening;
• go in for sports;
• avoid physical and emotional overload;
• give up bad habits, especially alcohol;
• eat right;
• allow yourself a good rest;
• to control chronic diseases of your body;
• to undergo scheduled medical examinations in a timely manner;
• Do not forget about intensive vitamin therapy, influenza vaccination, compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards.

Vegetovascular dystonia (VVD) | SOS Medical Assistance

Sometimes for some reason there is not enough air, then the head is suddenly dizzy, ringing in the ears and some incomprehensible fear, unexplained pressure surges and it is not clear why the arising heartbeat … Of course, all this happens in different life situations with almost all people, but if the “troubles” are repeated more and more often and are manifested more and more, there is a reason to figure it out.

Tendency to high or low blood pressure, rapid or, conversely, a rare pulse, feeling tired, cold hands and feet, sweating, chills or a feeling of heat, upset gastrointestinal tract. Frequent irritation for no apparent reason, headaches, weakness, dizziness, ringing in the ears, sleeplessness at night and drowsiness during the day – all these warning signs can be symptoms of vascular dystonia.

Vegetovascular dystonia (VVD) is a functional disorder of the nervous system, characterized by a violation of the general condition and well-being, manifested by inorganic malfunctions in the work of various organs and systems.It is believed that vegetative-vascular dystonia is not an independent disease, but only a syndrome.

Factors

Conflict situations, emotional stress, chronic diseases, endocrine disorders, lack of movement and other factors are in many ways provocateurs of the development of vegetative vascular dystonia.

Symptoms

Symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia may be similar to the manifestation of several diseases at once.These are surges in blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, palpitations and heart interruptions, fainting, a feeling of a wave of heat, chills, icy hands and feet, increased sweating. The person becomes meteorological. Often indigestion, abdominal pain, various pains throughout the body, especially at the moment of a deep breath. There is also a very specific symptomatology: a person cannot ride the subway, stand in line for a long time, sit in a chair at the hairdresser, due to the fact that he sharply feels an attack of anxiety or cannot cope with impatience, unreasonable rage or a sudden feeling of heaviness in his hands and legs.However, the most unpleasant moment in all this is the appearance of a sudden panic attack with severe pain in the heart and under the scapula, accompanied by a feeling of intense anxiety.

Diagnostics and treatment

It is clear that having such symptoms, a person turns to doctors for help. After a thorough examination, the doctor will be able to diagnose “VSD”, namely, not coordinated work of the vessels at the time of contraction and relaxation. Thus, there is a violation in the supply of blood and oxygen to the internal organs, which causes a malfunction in their work.Therefore, with vegetative vascular dystonia, there is no point in treating any one organ; an integrated approach to the entire body as a whole is needed here. And first of all, the treatment will depend on the patient himself.

Of course, the ideal option is the prevention and treatment of VSD at a young age, when the first symptoms of the disease appear. It is widely believed that VSD is a temporary condition, often observed during the development of a young organism, and will pass over time. Unfortunately, this opinion is erroneous – it has been proven that the VSD that arose in childhood or adolescence is an unfavorable background and a harbinger of many diseases.

Prevention

Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are common phrases, but, in the case of vegetative-vascular dystonia, gaining special significance. Even people with a hereditary predisposition to the disease have every chance of winning over the disease if they oppose dystonia with good health and good sleep. Most doctors agree that regular walking (or better jogging) strengthens not only the heart muscle, but also the immune system.Frequent “communication with nature” has a beneficial effect on the regenerative functions of the body, accelerating and restoring them.

90,000 Dizziness and loss of consciousness

Approximately 30-50% of people experience fainting or “darkening of the eyes” at some point in their lives. Fainting occurs for a variety of reasons, but the immediate common cause is usually a sudden drop in blood pressure, which in turn causes a short-term reduction in blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain.
Usually, but not always, a person immediately before loss of consciousness feels lightheadedness or dizziness, and may also complain of darkening in the eyes, ringing in the ears. In addition, you may experience nausea, vomiting, sweating, and a rapid heart rate or slow heartbeat.
Fainting among patients of various ages is so common that many patients do not immediately perceive it as a serious threat to life, and can only seek professional help after a series of fainting spells, which is a mistake.
The most common type of fainting occurs due to improper reflex interaction of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, as a result of which the cardiovascular system chooses an inadequate heart rate and the degree of relaxation of the blood vessels of the body.
In addition to the so-called functional or “reflex” forms of fainting, patients can also faint due to organic heart disease: excessively fast or slow heartbeats, dysfunction of the heart muscle or heart valves, as well as diseases of the nervous system and overdose of drugs that lower blood pressure.
Differential diagnosis usually requires taking an electrocardiogram or “EKG”, as well as an ultrasound scan of the heart or “echocardiogram” and other methods.
A physician may recommend that patients who complain of recurrent reflex fainting avoid certain situations that lead to fainting (for example, standing on a crowded train in hot weather), wear medicated compression stockings, prescribe certain medications and, in some cases, establish a pacemaker if these fainting spells are accompanied by an excessive slowing of the heart rate
Certain non-invasive tests are available to diagnose heart muscle and / or heart valve disease, such as 24-hour continuous recording of heart rate and rhythm by ECG (“Holter ECG”)
In some cases, invasive examinations may be required, such as coronary angiography (cardiac catheterization) and / or specialized examinations of the “electrical system” of the heart, known as “electrophysiologic examination or EPI”.
Patients with organic heart muscle disease often experience syncope due to an excessively fast heartbeat. In such a situation, the heart simply does not have time to eject the amount of blood necessary to ensure the normal functioning of the brain, and the doctor may decide to perform a special operation on the heart to eliminate or cauterize the source of such arrhythmia (see.below). In some cases, the doctor may decide to implant a special device under the skin that resembles a pacemaker that will restore excessively fast heartbeats using an electric shock from the inside (see implantable cardioverter defibrillator).
In general, it should be concluded that in the event of fainting, one should not wait for its repeated recurrence (since the 2nd or 3rd may be the last), but quickly seek help from a specialist.

Trembling in dogs.Causes and treatment

Publication date: 2016-12-18 20:56:00

Shivering in dogs can be provoked by a variety of factors, ranging from the usual joy at the sight of their owner and ending with intoxication of the body. This should also include tremors with excitement, pain, old age and nausea. Sometimes, trembling in dogs can be a symptom of a dangerous condition or pathology, such as poisoning, kidney disease, or injury. So if your pet suddenly starts to tremble, it’s important to pay attention to other accompanying symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or lameness.Then you must immediately contact your veterinarian.

Some of the most common causes of tremors or tremors in dogs are pre-existing pathologies. For example, plague virus is more common in puppies that are not vaccinated on time. This is a common cause of internal anxiety in dogs. Other factors causing tremors include eye conditions, nasal discharge, fever, and coughing.

For tremors in dogs, veterinarians usually provide symptomatic treatment, during which the dog’s immune system itself fights the virus.Antibiotics, physical therapy, and intravenous fluids may also be prescribed to prevent dehydration.

Quite often in dogs, tremors are the result of a syndrome that veterinarians call steroid. This type of tremor occurs in dogs of all sizes, breeds, and colors. Veterinary science cannot say for sure what exactly causes this type of tremor. Dogs usually begin to show symptoms between 9 months and 2 years of age. Treatment is with corticosteroids such as prednisone.Positive results can be observed within a week from the start of treatment.

Dogs, like humans, can feel nauseous. This, for example, can be observed as a result of motion sickness, from the use of certain medications, overeating or when eating poisonous plants. Nausea in dogs can also develop as a consequence of kidney or liver disease. Nausea can also be a symptom of a dog’s concussion. The pet owner may suspect nausea in his pet due to symptoms such as lethargy, lip smacking, frequent swallowing of saliva, yawning more often than usual, vomiting.

Treatment of nausea will be determined by the reasons that provoked it. However, it should be remembered that if the cause of nausea was poisoning, in which you can observe severe vomiting, then you must immediately contact the veterinarian for emergency veterinary care.

As dogs age, they develop tremors in their hind legs. Sometimes there may be tremors in the forelimbs. Nevertheless, the appearance of senile tremor has absolutely no effect on the movement of the dog, for example, during a street walk.

Symptoms such as trembling limbs usually indicate that your dog has simply reached old age. However, the possibility that the tremor arose under the influence of such a factor as pain cannot be ruled out. Thus, this condition requires consultation with a veterinarian, which will allow you to unequivocally establish the cause of this kind of tremor.

Certain toxins and poisons can also cause tremors or tremors in dogs. Some of these toxins are harmless to humans but poisonous to animals.For example, chocolate, cigarettes and xylitol are toxic to dogs.

The clinical presentation of poisoning in a dog is highly variable and may include symptoms such as tremors, weakness, disorientation, depression, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures. If there is a possibility that the dog has swallowed something potentially toxic, you should immediately seek qualified help from a veterinary clinic.