Are you always cold? It could be a health condition.

Not all of our readers will live in deep freeze for the next few months. But feeling cold can happen in any weather, as circulation, activity, nutrition and more can nip our noses.

So if your feet are frosty or you’re mentally prepping for how to keep active this winter, we’ve got tips to keep you toasty. First, grab a cuppa something warm and glide into…

Your Checkup: 

• Um, do you need to be washing your bananas?
• Here’s why you woke up at 3 am with that bad feeling
• What to know about the fluoridated water debate
• A food writer shares how to eat in stressful times
• Uncovering genetic risk can jeopardize future care!
• Which flu strand is worse, and does it matter?
• A Canadian teen contracts their first bird flu case
• Experts share cold-weather running must-haves
• In your 30s? Prioritize these 7 exercise movements
• An argument for the viral Tiktok dense bean salad

Primary Care

What’s a cold sweat?

According to Prevention, we don’t understand cold sweats.

Overheating from a virus or menopause can make us sweat and then feel chilled once our temperature drops. But technically, cold sweats are not about heat.

Instead, they’re an adrenaline-induced stress response—in other words, our body sweats for attention. A heart attack, certain cancers, some medications, thyroid disorders, panic attacks, low blood sugar, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and other conditions can trigger the rallying cry.

Head to the article for more specifics and tips.

Our circulatory system needs to pump healthy red blood cells to our extremities for us to have warm hands and feet. So if yours are constantly cold despite a warm environment, Very Well Health explains that a (treatable but) chronic condition may be at play.

For those born female, hormonal changes can affect blood vessel size. A slowed or slower metabolism can decrease circulation. A low red blood cell count (anemia) can reduce blood flow. Health conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, Raynaud's disease and MS can affect the process, too. And you’re at higher risk if you’re an older adult, you regularly use alcohol, or you don’t get enough sleep.

To learn when you should seek medical help, head to the article.

It takes 5 minutes for the body to get used to exercising in cold weather. But as detailed in the Guardian, getting past those 5 minutes is critical for safety and success.

Cold cools our nerves, muscles and body temperature, which reduces our ability to oxygenate muscles by up to 40%. That makes wearing layers vital—especially those that move sweat away from skin. (Cooled sweat can trigger hypothermia.)

Wear mittens instead of gloves to reduce heat loss. Slather Vaseline on nasal passages and lips to decrease exposure + minimize breathing issues. (Keeping nostrils warm also helps us fight inhaled viruses.) And to prime yourself for winter, start exercising outside now.

PS: If you have an FSA account, time is running out to use your pre-tax funds before they’re forfeited at the end of the year! If exercise helps you manage a condition, Dr. B may be able to help you use those funds for fitness trackers, apps, gym memberships + more. Learn about FSA for fitness at Dr. B.

Healthcare 911

Measles is debilitating and deadly, and cases are surging, WHO and CDC warn (CNN). Global cases rose 20% last year + 107,000 people died—mostly young children. The virus had been eradicated from 82 countries. But US vaccination rates remain below the federal target 4 years running, and 16 outbreaks have been reported this year. Highly contagious, measles can cause blindness and brain damage, and 1 in 10 children develop pneumonia.

Americans have regained modest trust in scientists, survey finds (NY Times). About 76% of US adults currently believe scientists act in the public’s best interest—up from last year but 10 points below pre-pandemic figures. The increase comes mainly from Republicans, which suggests that polarizing pandemic issues are fading from top of mind.

Birth control and abortion pill requests have surged since Trump won the election (Time). Providers report increased requests for tubal ligation and updated IUDs. And orders for emergency contraception + abortion pills have spiked dramatically since the election. As patients stockpile ahead of potential legal changes, providers hope they understand the difference between the two. But they understand the increased desire to prevent pregnancy rather than risk a lack of access to abortion care.