Menopause & Cold Feeling

A menopausal woman may experience a cold feeling right after a hot flash or night sweat, particularly if she is asleep when the flash occurs. When a woman has a surge of heat coursing through her body, this makes her sweat. The sweat will drench her body, her hair and her nightwear as well as her sheets and blankets. She may wake up freezing because she is wet.

Endocrine System

• If you are chilled to the bone, which is the exact opposite of a hot flash, it is probably because the heating mechanism in your body is slowing down because of a hormonal imbalance. The endocrine gland, which can become exhausted as we age, is in command of keeping the body balanced. If this gland isn't working optimally, your body temperature can go from one extreme to the other.

Depression and SAD

• Feeling cold can also be a symptom of seasonal effective disorder (SAD) and depression, according to Dr. David Avery, who is an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Considering that menopausal women are in the midst of disturbing hormonal fluctuations, depression may occur if appropriate methods of managing the symptoms aren't applied. According to Dr. Avery, our minimum body temperature occurs at 3 a.m. If you are suffering from SAD, your body rhythm is altered. When you wake up at 6 a.m., your body thinks it's the middle of the night and your body is very cold. Dr. Avery recommends that you reset your biological clock in an effort to banish coldness and depression in the morning. He suggests taking a 15 minute walk immediately upon wakening, which will reset your clock. This will expose you to some morning sun and, as a result, you will become less temperature sensitive as well as less depressed.

Anemic

• If a woman is iron deficient, or anemic, which can happen if she is bleeding too much during perimenopause, or if her diet is deficient, this can make you feel cold. Eat broccoli, potatoes, tuna, liver, shrimp, lean mean and turkey. These foods are iron-rich. Ask your doctor if you should be taking an iron supplement.

Hypothyroidism

• Menopausal women frequently suffer from hypothyroidism, which means a sluggish thyroid. When this occurs, it can make a woman feel very cold. Other symptoms include low blood sugar, dry and thinning skin and low body temperature.

Finding Balance

• Discuss your temperature sensitivity with your physician. In addition, try to eat a balanced diet and make sure that you are getting the proper vitamins and minerals, which may help your hormonally challenged, menopausal body get back in balance.