Cold Intolerance Symptoms

Cold intolerance is a person's inability to handle being in cold temperatures or environment. Cold intolerance is most often a non-specific symptom of a systemic disease or a focal neuromuscular injury. It can also be broken down into two types of symptoms, acute and chronic.

Acute

• Acute symptoms are usually localized to one area of the body such as the hand, arm or leg. Acute symptoms are also associated with symptoms such as numbness, weakness or skin color changes.

Chronic

• Even if the symptoms are localized, they may have still occurred chronically. This can be in part to prior damage or an injury. Chronic symptoms can last for up to 3 years after an injury has occurred.

Acute with Orthostatic

• Cold intolerance with acute symptoms can sometimes be associated with orthostatic symptoms. These symptoms include vomiting, fatigue and stomach pain. These symptoms can be caused by adrenal insufficiency, which is common in patients with low sodium and high potassium levels.

Considerations

• A intolerance to cold weather can indicate metabolic problems. Women who are very slender do not have enough insulation in terms of body fat to tolerate colder environments and weather.

Warning

• If the symptoms of cold intolerance have continued for 2-3 years, it's important to get checked out by a health care provider. The doctor can inform you if your intolerance for the cold is a cause for a more serious condition.