Symptom 3. Sensitivity to Cold – An Underappreciated Sign of Low Iodine
A heightened sensitivity to cold is another common symptom seen in individuals with low iodine levels. If you find yourself reaching for a sweater while others around you seem comfortable, or if you’re struggling with cold hands and feet even in moderate temperatures, you might be experiencing this symptom of iodine deficiency.
But why does a deficiency of this trace mineral make you sensitive to cold? To unravel this, let’s delve deeper into the intricacies of thyroid function and how it’s linked to our body’s temperature regulation.
Your thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck, is the control center for your metabolism. It uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones – T3 and T4, which help regulate the rate at which your body uses energy. This includes maintaining your body’s temperature.
When the thyroid hormone levels are low due to iodine deficiency, the metabolic rate decreases. The body’s processes, including heat production, slow down. This is why individuals with low iodine levels often feel cold even when others are comfortable or warm.
Thyroid hormones also play a role in vasoconstriction and vasodilation – the narrowing and widening of your blood vessels. When the body is cold, blood vessels near the surface of the skin constrict to minimize heat loss and maintain body temperature. In people with iodine deficiency and resulting low thyroid hormone levels, this process may be impaired, leading to an increased feeling of coldness, especially in the extremities such as hands and feet.
Sensitivity to cold might be easy to dismiss or attribute to other factors like the weather or individual differences. However, if you find yourself persistently feeling colder than others in the same environment, it might be a symptom of low iodine levels, especially if it’s accompanied by other symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, or dry skin. (3)
