Watch out for diabetes and anemia symptom - it may seem 'normal' in the winter

Superdrug Pharmacy Superintendent Niamh McMillan explained that a few potentially life-threatening conditions often manifest as feeling cold

As frosty temperatures hit the UK, feeling cold may seem like the new normal. But one health expert has now warned that persistent chills aren't always the result of weather and may signal an underlying problem with your health.

Superdrug Pharmacy Superintendent Niamh McMillan explained that a few potentially life-threatening conditions often manifest as chilly feelings, but sufferers generally experience other symptoms at the same time.

Worryingly, this includes both anaemia and type two diabetes, with the latter among the top global causes of death in 2021, according to the World Health Organisation. "Diabetes can cause nerve damage in the extremities that can make you feel cold all of the time," McMillan explained.

"Additional symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, an increased need to pass urine more frequently, feeling tired and losing weight... [Meanwhile] anaemia is a condition where the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues and organs, meaning that your body does not get enough oxygen-rich blood.

"Symptoms of this condition can sometimes include cold hands and feet, due to poor blood circulation, as well as fatigue, dizziness, pale skin and shortness of breath. A common type of anaemia is linked to iron deficiency, which develops if you don’t get enough iron from food, or you have lost a lot of blood from an injury or illness."

Find out about the symptoms you need to watch out for and get health advice with our free health newsletter from the Mirror

Beyond this, McMillan also warned that hypothyroidism is another little-known cause of persistent chills. This generally takes place when a person's thyroid is underactive, and hormones are not released as they should be.

She continued: "Hypothyroidism can slow down your metabolism, leading to a drop in your overall temperature, leaving you to feel permanently cold and especially sensitive to cold surroundings. Additional symptoms can include constipation, depression and aching muscles.

"Superdrug Online Doctor offers a Thyroid Hormone Test Kit allowing you to check your thyroid hormone levels from home." If you're worried about any of these symptoms, it's important to seek the advice of a GP.