Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Shivering - Chills
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
A chill is a sensation of cold. When chills occur at an unexpected time, they may be due to a fever-causing illness.
What is going on in the body?
Anyone can experience chills as a normal reaction, such as going out into the cold. In medical terms, chills usually refer to those that occur in an unexpected setting.
The brain closely regulates the body's normal temperature. When an infection occurs, infection-fighting cells in the body make certain chemicals. In some cases, these chemicals may travel through the bloodstream and cause the brain to raise the normal temperature inside the body. This is how a fever occurs. When the brain raises the temperature set point in the body, a person gets a feeling of cold. This feeling may stop if the new set point is reached. Shivering may even occur, as the body tries to use muscle movement to raise the temperature.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Chills have several causes, including:
In some cases, the cause is unknown. Many elderly people feel cold at temperatures that younger people find normal. This is generally considered a normal effect of aging.