Symptom 3. Sensitivity to Cold: An Unexpected Chill
Feeling cold even when the weather isn’t necessarily chilly is a classic symptom of Hashimoto’s disease. This sensitivity to cold is a direct consequence of slowed metabolism. When thyroid hormone levels drop, your body’s ability to generate heat is impaired, leaving you feeling colder than usual.
This symptom isn’t about a slight discomfort in lower temperatures, which can be quite common. Instead, it’s an exaggerated chilliness, with the individual often feeling cold when others around them are comfortable or even warm. For instance, needing to wear an extra layer of clothing indoors or finding it difficult to warm up, even in a heated room, are tell-tale signs.
While not life-threatening, this symptom can cause significant discomfort and disrupt daily life, making routine tasks challenging. Moreover, it’s easy to mistake it for other problems, such as poor circulation or anaemia, thereby delaying the diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease. (3)
