Symptoms of Shivering, Treatment and Others

When to Seek Medical Attention For Shivering?

Shivering occurs in a person when he or she is cold. It normally lasts for the period it takes for the individual to warm up. However, it can also be because of some physical or mental illness.

Shivering is an extremely common and normal body response to low temperatures, usually a warning indicator that one needs to get into a warm environment. However, at times it becomes a symptom of other medical conditions. The causes, symptoms, and treatments for shivering vary, and grasping them will help in managing this quite common but sometimes worrying phenomenon.

What is shivering?

Shivering is a process of rapid contraction and relaxation of muscles, a phenomenon that produces heat to manage body temperature. Shivering is mediated centrally in a preparation, especially by the hypothalamus, a part of the brain.
It is one of the main responses against a cold environment but also occurs due to other stimuli such as fever, fear, and some medical conditions.

Shivering Symptoms

Shivering itself is a symptom and can be accompanied by various other signs depending on what has caused it. Hence, common symptoms include:

1. Cold Sensation: Feeling cold is the most direct precursor of shivering.
2. Muscle Tremors: Shivering is characterized by rapid muscle contractions and relaxations.
3. Chills: These are often described as waves of coldness running through the body.
4. Sweating: This can occur if shivering is due to a fever.
5. Pale Skin: Paleness due to decreased blood flow to the skin as a reaction to cold.
6. Rise in Heartbeat: The body may increase the heartbeat, which in turn causes the blood to pump faster to generate heat.
7. Fatigue: Continual shivering may lead to muscle exhaustion and tiredness, generally.

Causes of Shivering

1. Exposure to Cold: This is the most common cause and indicates that the body is attempting to generate heat.
2. Fever: Due to infections, the body often increases its core temperature set point, leading to shivering to generate more heat.
3. Hypoglycaemia: Shivering owing to the low levels of sugar in the blood to help in the production of energy.
4. Anxiety/Fear: Intense emotions result in a stress response where one may shiver.
5. Medical Conditions: Medical conditions like hypothermia, sepsis, and thyroid imbalances can result in shivering.

Treatments for Shivering
This could be properly managed by only pinpointing and treating the underlying cause. Some general methods include:
1. Warming: Increasing the core temperature of the patient by moving to a warm place, covering it with blankets, or using warm drinks, which forms the mainstay of management for cold-induced shivering.
2. Medications: In shivering caused by a raised temperature, antipyretics like acetaminophen or ibuprofen will lower the temperature and thus reduce shivering.
3.Glucose Intake: In cases of hypoglycemia-induced shivering, a quick intake of sugar, such as fruit juice or glucose tablets, can be useful in elevating blood sugar levels.
4. Relaxation Techniques: If the basic reason for the shaking is anxiety or fear, then techniques of deep breathing and meditation, which were designed to reduce the body's stress response, are worthwhile.
5. Medical Intervention: In severe cases, such as sepsis or thyroid imbalance, medical intervention is necessary. It could be in the form of antibiotics in cases of infection or hormone therapy in cases of a thyroid problem.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While shivering at times is not dangerous, there are some instances when it may be prudent to seek medical assistance:

1. Persistent Shivering: When a person continues shivering even after trying to get warm, then there could be something serious wrong.
2. Severe Shivering: Rigorous shivering that disrupts daily activities or is very uncomfortable should be examined.
3. Associated Symptoms: One must consult medics immediately if he is having such shivering accompanied by symptoms like high fever, confusion, chest pain, or difficulty in breathing.

Summary

Shivering is an extremely common physiological response that can be caused due to many factors. In most cases, it is a prelude to the rise in temperature; however, sometimes it may turn out to be symptomatic of health issues.
You should know enough about the symptoms and treatments to enable you to handle this response yourself to a certain extent and have appropriate care when required. Always listen to what your body says and consult professionals if you are concerned.