These tremors are sudden muscle contractions and relaxations that the body performs as a reaction mechanism from top to bottom . The answer to this question varies depending on the form of the tremors.
The most common is shivering in the human body in cold environments or when there is a fever in the body. In both cases , the function of the decrease in body temperature is to regulate the internal body temperature.
We must keep in mind that human beings have fixed systems and mechanisms to maintain their internal temperature. These systems are managed by an organ called the Hypothalamus , located inside our skull .
The hypothalamus gives orders to the brain to keep body temperature constant:
- Increase lung ventilation to dissipate heat from the air and create more oxygen movement .
- Sweat to remove excess heat from your body as fluid , allowing the outside air to evaporate the sweat, cooling your body.
- Vibrate to produce heat .
Sometimes, shivering causes goosebumps, we should not think that this is just a result of shivering or that it means the same as shivering. It is natural for the hairs to stand on end on our bodies, due to the way they are located . The function of the hairs is to create a heat insulation layer on the skin. In this way, we do not lose more heat than we lose through sweating.
For this reason, goosebumps are not always associated with shivering . Goosebumps are more often associated with cold.
Read more: How to reduce fever to prevent complications
1. Shivering due to fever
A fever can be caused by a variety of issues, including infections, but all of them cause chills. Certain age groups, such as children and the elderly, are more likely to have pronounced muscle movements.
Although some health protocols recommend treatments for shivering caused by fever, these are generally not used. For some extreme cases, drug therapy is prescribed. Calcium salts and morphine sulfate-containing medications are the preferred drugs.
Shivering due to fever is another symptom of the bigger picture that will show itself later. Therefore, a health care professional should be consulted to reach a definitive diagnosis. Treatment will be directed at the underlying disease that causes shivering due to fever.
2. Chills
When the outside environment is very cold and the body perceives the ambient temperature as such, the body begins to shiver to produce its internal heat. As we explained earlier, this is another command given to the brain by the Hypothalamus mechanism.
There are slight differences in each person’s response to cold depending on the amount of body fat . Those with less body fat tend to shiver more than others.
3. Children and tremors
Pediatric age is an age range characterized by more frequent shivering than in the adult stage. It is a condition that is more common in this age range, not only because of the fever that is more common in infants and children than in the elderly, but also because it occurs spontaneously.
Spontaneous tremors in childhood have been associated with anxiety in children caused by situations such as hunger or the urge to defecate . It is completely benign and does not require medical treatment.
Read more: Diagnosis and causes of epilepsy in children
4. Infections
Infections cause fever and therefore create shivering in the human body. By increasing body temperature , it fights against microorganisms that enter the body, and the human body is expected to eliminate this heat in order not to damage the organs.
A fever caused by an infection is a necessary process that forces shivering to activate another necessary mechanism. Although shivering does not require a specific treatment method, it is useful to see a doctor to treat the infection behind the fever.
5. Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is the occurrence of lower than normal blood sugar levels . A person experiencing hypoglycemia will experience shivering along with other pre-fainting symptoms such as cold sweats and dizziness.
6. Prostate and menopause formation
As we age, symptoms that we have not seen before begin to appear in our bodies. Among these symptoms are tremors. The cause of tremors in men is the onset of prostate. Men over the age of sixty experience prostate enlargement, which makes it difficult to urinate . Due to the enlarged prostate, you may feel tremors every time you make an effort to urinate.
The problem that causes shivering in women is menopause . In women who have entered the menopause phase, a temporary increase in body temperature is associated with hot flashes . Shivering acts as a temperature regulator during this phase.
Conclusion:
As we have seen from our article, shivering usually does not require medical attention. If there is a fever, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Sometimes infections show their first symptoms with shivering attacks . The health care provider you will consult already knows how to distinguish between conditions that require treatment and those that are benign and will resolve on their own.
