Other names for Chills

Shivering
Rigors
Tremors due to Cold
Cold Shakes

Synopsis of Chills

Chills are episodes of shivering and feeling cold, often accompanied by goosebumps and teeth chattering, even in a warm environment. They occur when the body rapidly contracts and relaxes muscles in an effort to generate heat and raise internal body temperature. Chills are usually a sign of the body responding to an underlying condition, most commonly an infection such as the flu, a bacterial infection, or another inflammatory process. Sometimes, chills can occur without a fever, particularly due to exposure to cold environments, anxiety, or other medical conditions like low blood sugar or hypothyroidism.

Infections that trigger chills often also produce fever, fatigue, and body aches. Recognizing the cause of chills is important because they can range from benign to serious depending on the associated symptoms.

Types of Chills:

• Chills with Fever: Often due to infections such as influenza, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, or malaria.

• Chills without Fever: Can occur with cold exposure, panic attacks, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), or anemia.

• Chronic or Recurrent Chills: May signal conditions like thyroid dysfunction or autoimmune diseases.

Common Causes:

• Viral infections (e.g., influenza, COVID-19)

• Bacterial infections (e.g., pneumonia, urinary tract infections, sepsis)

• Malaria (paroxysmal chills with fever)

• Exposure to cold temperatures

• Anxiety or panic attacks

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

• Anemia

• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

Severity Factors:

• Presence of persistent high fever

• Chills associated with confusion, rapid heart rate, or difficulty breathing

• Chills in immunocompromised individuals (higher risk of severe infections)

• Chronic or unexplained chills lasting several days

When to See a Doctor:

• Chills accompanied by high fever (>103°F or 39.4°C)

• Persistent chills without an obvious cause

• Chills with chest pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, or low blood pressure

• In individuals with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses

• When chills recur frequently or are accompanied by severe fatigue or weight loss

Natural remedies for Chills

Warm blankets: Use to gradually bring body temperature up if cold exposure is the cause.

Warm fluids: Drink hot tea, broth, or water to warm the body internally and stay hydrated.

Rest: Allows the immune system to combat infections more effectively.

Ginger tea: Supports circulation and has mild warming and anti-inflammatory properties.

Layered clothing: Helps trap body heat if the chills are environmental.

Good nutrition: Ensure adequate intake of immune-supporting nutrients like vitamins C and zinc.

Stress management: Relaxation exercises if chills are anxiety-related.

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Chills

Allspice
Aloe vera
green chiretta
anthocyanins
astaxanthin
betel
bilberry
black currant
blueberry
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
chlorella
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
d-sorbitol
elderberry
forsythia
garlic bulb
ginger
grape
greek mountain tea
green tea
licorice root
mustard seed
ophiopogon root
pear
pomegranate
quercetin
resveratrol
rhizome
schizonepeta
selenium
spirulina
thyme
vitamin C
vitamin D
water
zinc
squawvine
xanthium (cockleburs)
atractylodes
mugwort
neem tree
nut grass
alpinia galangal
inula racemosa
blackboard tree
caesalpinia crista
peony
Szechuan lovage
boxthorne
buckthorn
lemongrass
chrysanthemum
siler root
hyacinth bean
zanthoxylum
herbal blend (proprietary)
indigo leaves
Ash
Angelica archanglica
Avens
Alpinia
African Ginger
American Basil
Artemisia Herba-Alba
Anthraquinone
Aga
Amylase
Ardisia
Angelica
Anamu
Arisaema amurense
Aconite
Artemisia
Alkaloid (unspecified)
Arisaema cum bile
Adrenergic amines
Alpinia (unspecified)
Apricot
Alkaloids
Amomum (unspecified)
Asteracea
Atractylodes
American Dogwood
Avian (unspecified)
Ant
Arani
Arisaema
Artemisia (unspecified)
Ash (unspecified)
Aster (unspecified)
Atlantic Cedar
Atractylone
Belleric myrobalan
Bermuda Grass
Bengal Fig
Bergenia Pacumbis
Baphicacanthus cusia
Blackthorn
Broussonetia
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Bayleaf
Butea monosperma
Black galingale
Bitter Grass
Blackboard tree
Bee hive
Buckhorn Plantain
Balsam (unspecified)
Bur-Reed
Bee products
Black Nightshade
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
Boneset
Bovine (not specified)
Black Pepper and White Pepper
Bassia scoparia
Borneol
Curcuma wenyujin
Chinese Silkvine
Curry leaf
Caryophyllene
Copaiba balsam
Chickweed
Capillary Artemisia
Chinese mugwort
Cluster Fig
Chinese Quince
Cajuput
California Goldenrod
Chinese Raisintree
Cowherb
Curcuma amada
Clivers
cloves
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Colombo
Chinese peony
Cinchona
Chirata
Clove
Chinese Rhubarb
Chinese Licorice
chrysanthemum
China Rose
Ceylon Ginger
Chinese Goldthread
Chenopodium album
Color
Conehead Thyme
Cannabigerol
Chondrus
Dianthus
Dioscorea oppositifolia
Dwarf lilyturf
Dodder
Echinacea (unspecified)
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Empresstree
Eclipta
English Oak
Echinacea
Essential Oil Blend
European-Five Finger Grass
Ethanol
esters (unspecified)
Fragrant Angelica
Fang-Feng
Flat-stem milk-vetch
Flowering quince
Finger Leaf Morning Glory
Five-Leaf Cassia
Flavor
Flavor/Color (Natural & Artificial)
Gnaphalium
Glycoside
Goldthread (unspecified)
Greater galangal
Glechoma hederacea
Gardenia
Ginger oleoresin
Galanga
Ginger
Ginger phenols (unspecified)
Glycoprotein (unspecified)
Hu Zhang
Hedychium Spicatum
Hedyotis (unspecified)
Hedyotis diffusa
Heal-All
Hedyotis
Helicteres isora
Hemp Agrimony
Herb Robert
Horsemint
Huang Hua
Indian Madder
Indian Mustard
Isatis
Indian Redwood
Long Pepper
Ignatius Bean
Indian Kinotree
Japanese Mint
Japanese Honeysuckle
Jungli-bean
Kurtha zopfil
lemongrass
Lindera aggregata
Lebbek
Ligustilide
Laggera pterodonta
Lodhtree
Luo San
Lavandula (unspecified)
Lewis's monkey flower
Malt (unspecitied)
Mustard
Menthol
Melia
Morinda (unspecified)
Mother of Pearl
Northern Prickly Ash
Nucno Pichana
Neem
Ophiopogon
Oregon Barberry
Osha
Osmanthus
Ox
Oxystelma
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)
Polymorpha
Phenylpropanoids
Pentacyclic alkaloids
Prepared Aconite Tuber
Polygonatum (unspecified)
Pansit-pansitan
Pyrrosia
Polygonatum
Prickly ash (mixed)
Plantain (unspecifed)
Polygonatum cirrhifolium
Peony (unspecified)
Petiveria
Prickly Ash Bark
Qunice
Quisqualis
Rhemannia
Red root (unspecified)
Rhapontic rubarb
Rice
Resin
Reed Herb
Sophora flavescens
Schizonepeta
Siler
Southern Prickly Ash
Sichuan Lovage
Sicklepod
Sichuan Fritillary
Sesbania
Sete sangrias
Smartweed
Sesquiterpenes
Southern Tsangshu
Sea water
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
Sicilian Sumac
Scordinin
San-Qi Ginseng
Sage
Shiny-Leaf Prickly Ash
Servicetree
Sword Bean
Trichosanthis
Tayuya
Taraxacum mongolicum
Thatch screw-pine
Thaumatococcus daniellii
Trichosanthes
Tannates
Tagetes
Thymus
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxamine)
Vitamin C (mixed)
Vietnamese sophora
Vitamin B6 (not specified)
Viola
Water
Wax Gourd
White Rice
Worm
White Nettle
Wulinshen
Yellow Ginger
Zedoary
Zinc