Chills: How Does It Develop and What Helps?
Chills are usually uncontrollable by the affected person: The whole body trembles, even when it’s not cold. But how does this unpleasant phenomenon occur in the first place and what helps against it?
What’s chills?
When there is a chill, the muscles contract quickly and then go limp again (contraction). The affected person usually feels a cold sensation, uncontrolled trembling all over the body occurs – even if he or she is actually sitting in the warm. Chills often occur in short bursts over several minutes. The muscle trembling is extremely strenuous – especially when the body is fighting pathogens at the same time, affected persons feel very exhausted after a flare and often fall asleep.
Why are we getting chills?
Although chills are unpleasant, they are indispensable for the body because the contractions generate heat. The normal body temperature is 37 degrees (set point). In the event of an infection, however, this target value increases because pathogens can be fought more effectively when the fever is low. For this purpose, so-called pyrogens are released: These pyrogens signal the brain to raise the temperature.
The hypothalamus, which is part of the diencephalon, responds to this signal and gives the command to adapt to the new set point. Especially in the case of severe infections such as influenza, this adaptation must happen quickly – this causes chills.
What causes chills?
In most cases, chills are a symptom in themselves and are caused by infectious diseases, which are usually accompanied by fever, for example:
- Flu / cold
- Scarlet fever
- Blood poisoning
- Pneumonia
- Inflammation of renal pelvis
- Testicular Inflammation
However, chills can also occur without fever. In this case the following causes can be present:
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothermia
- Poisoning
- Heat stroke / sunstroke
- Mental illnesses (e.g. ADHS)
What helps against the muscle tremor?
Usually it is not the shivering that is the problem, but the underlying disease. That is why it is better to treat it. If an infection like the flu is the cause, the following tips will help:
- Heat, for example from a footbath or hot water bottle
- Drinking a lot: For every degree of increased body temperature, at least half a litre more should be drunk
- Calf compress (lowers fever)
- Tea, for example with sweaty lime blossoms
- Silence
The situation is different if heat stroke or sunstroke is the cause of the muscle tremor. In this case, the first thing to do is to sit in the shade, and in the best case scenario, the person affected should be sitting. Then the following tips will help to cool down:
- Cool, moist compresses (for the head, neck and as a calf wrap)
- Drinking a lot
A doctor should also always be consulted.