Over 60 and constantly cold? Endocrinologists explain when feeling chilly is normal – and when it’s a red flag

Glenn Macdonald • December 09, 2025 15:52

Over 60 and constantly cold? Endocrinologists explain when feeling chilly is normal – and when it’s a red flag

Some days it feels like you’re the only one reaching for a cardigan in July. You sit in a warm room, others crack open a window, and you’re quietly wondering whether it’s the boiler, your age, or something more serious. Friends might joke about you being “a lizard” or “part penguin”, but a part of you worries: is this just getting older, or is my body trying to tell me something?

From an endocrinologist’s view, being cold all the time sits on a fine line between “annoying but benign” and “a clue we really shouldn’t ignore”. The difference doesn’t show up in the blanket count alone; it appears in what else is changing with your body: weight, energy, heartbeat, skin, mood. Those tiny details are the real story.

Below, specialists unpack why feeling chilly is common over 60, when it’s still normal, and when it’s a sign to ring your GP rather than the gas engineer.

Why feeling colder is common after 60

Ageing quietly changes your internal thermostat. The same room that felt fine at 40 can feel draughty at 70, even if the radiators haven’t budged. That shift is not imaginary; it’s physiology.

As you get older, you tend to:

Lose some muscle mass, which normally produces heat.
Have thinner skin and less insulating fat in certain areas.
See slower circulation, especially in hands and feet.
Experience changes in how your brain senses and responds to temperature.

Your thyroid and other hormones also change with age. Even if your blood tests are technically “normal”, your body might run at a slightly lower metabolic speed. That can translate into taking longer to warm up, struggling more outside in winter, or needing thicker socks than you used to.

None of that automatically signals disease. It does mean your “comfortable” zone narrows. A house that sat at 18°C without complaint in your fifties might now need a quiet nudge to 20–21°C for you to feel human.

When being chilly is probably normal

Endocrinologists tend to relax when cold sensitivity appears in predictable, context-friendly ways. In other words: the chill has good reasons, and goes away when those reasons do.

Here are patterns that usually stay in the “reassuring” column:

You feel cold mostly when it’s objectively cold or damp.
Your hands and feet are the worst offenders, but the rest of you feels fine once you’re moving.
A jumper, warm drink or light walk reliably fixes the problem.
Your energy, weight, appetite, bowels and mood are otherwise steady for you.
You’ve always been “the chilly one”, and nothing much has changed.

Think of this as your body saying, “I’m getting on a bit-please help me out with layers and movement.” It might be inconvenient, but it’s not a red flag on its own.

Endocrinologists also see short-term phases of feeling cold after:

A period of losing weight, especially if it was rapid or unintentional dieting.
A hospital stay or illness where you were inactive and lost muscle.
Certain medications that drop your blood pressure or slow your heart slightly.

In those cases, re‑building muscle, eating enough protein and gently re‑conditioning your body can warm you up over weeks, not days.

When “always cold” deserves a closer look

The worry rises when feeling cold is new for you, severe, or comes bundled with other symptoms. This is when endocrinologists start to think about hormones, blood, and circulation rather than just the thermostat.

Patterns that need medical attention include:

You’re colder than everyone else in clearly warm environments.
You’re layering clothes indoors and still shivering.
Your cold sensitivity appeared suddenly over weeks, not gradually over years.
You’re tired in a way that rest doesn’t touch.
You’re gaining weight without trying, or the opposite-losing weight and appetite.

In particular, a “cold all the time” complaint plus any of the below earns a prompt GP appointment:

Noticeably dry skin or hair loss.
Constipation that’s new for you.
Puffy face, especially around the eyes.
Slowed thinking, low mood or feeling “foggy”.
Very slow or very fast heart rate.
Breathlessness, paleness or feeling light‑headed on standing.
Chest pain, calf pain when walking, or one limb going cold and pale.

Those combinations can point towards underactive thyroid, anaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, low cortisol, heart problems or circulation issues. All are treatable, but they do not fix themselves with an extra blanket.

The endocrine causes doctors look for

When someone over 60 says, “I’m freezing all the time,” endocrinologists mentally run through a short list of usual suspects. They sound technical, but each has a pattern.

1. Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

This is the classic hormone reason for feeling cold. The thyroid gland in your neck sets your metabolic “idle speed”. When it slows, everything else does too.

Typical companions to cold intolerance include:

Tiredness, sluggishness, needing more sleep.
Weight gain or swelling, despite eating the same.
Dry, itchy skin; thinning hair or the outer third of the eyebrows going sparse.
Constipation, bloating.
Heavy or irregular periods before menopause; low libido afterwards.
Low mood, forgetfulness, “brain fog”.
A slower pulse and sometimes raised cholesterol.

Hypothyroidism is common, especially in older women, and easily checked with a simple blood test (TSH and free T4). Treatment with levothyroxine aims to reset your internal engine, easing the constant chill over a few months.

2. Anaemia and vitamin deficiencies

If your red blood cells or haemoglobin are low, delivering oxygen and heat becomes harder. The result: cold hands, feet and nose, plus fatigue that feels bone-deep.

Anaemia often brings:

Paleness (inside the lower eyelids is a helpful clue).
Breathlessness on stairs or mild exertion.
Thumping heartbeats or dizziness.
Headaches, reduced exercise tolerance.

In people over 60, common causes include low iron, long‑term blood loss (sometimes from the gut), vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, and chronic kidney disease. Blood tests can sort these out quickly, and targeted treatment usually improves both energy and warmth.

3. Low cortisol and pituitary problems (rarer but serious)

Cortisol is your stress and “get up and go” hormone. Very low levels-called adrenal insufficiency-are less common, but endocrinologists listen for them because delays in diagnosis can be dangerous.

Red flags alongside feeling cold or shivery:

Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite.
Nausea, tummy pain, diarrhoea.
Darkening of skin in skin folds or scars (in Addison’s disease).
Salt cravings, low blood pressure, feeling faint, especially on standing.
Severe fatigue out of proportion to activity.

These conditions need specialist tests and treatment, but once identified, replacing hormones can dramatically change how your body handles temperature and stress.

Non-hormonal culprits that still matter

Not every cold body is a hormone story. Endocrinologists often share care with cardiologists, haematologists and GPs because the body doesn’t silo its signals as neatly as textbooks do.

Other frequent causes of constant cold in older adults include:

Heart failure or heart valve problems: poor pumping means poor warm blood delivery.
Peripheral arterial disease: narrowed leg arteries cause cold, pale, sometimes painful feet or calves.
Certain medications: beta‑blockers, some antidepressants and sedatives can drop your heart rate or blood pressure.
Poor nutrition: not enough calories or protein, whether through low appetite, dental problems or financial constraints, can thin your insulation and muscle.

That’s why an honest temperature diary paired with a symptom list is so useful. It saves time and helps your doctor look beyond “it’s just your age”.

Simple checks you can do at home

Before or alongside seeing a doctor, you can quietly gather clues. Think of it less as self‑diagnosis and more as giving your GP a head start.

Try this mini checklist:

Check the actual room temperature. Use a cheap thermometer rather than guessing. Many homes of older adults sit below 18°C in winter without anyone noticing.
Notice patterns. Are mornings worse? After meals? Only when sitting still? Suddenly worse after a new tablet?
Look at your skin and nails. Are they very pale, bluish at the fingertips, or flaky and dry despite moisturiser?
Sense your heart. Do you feel your pulse racing or dragging? Is walking to the loo leaving you breathless?
Review changes in the last 3–6 months. Weight, appetite, bowels, mood, sleep, memory-all of these anchor the story.

Write it down. Bring it to your appointment. Doctors work better with timelines than with “it’s been ages” and “I just feel off”.

What a GP or endocrinologist is likely to do

When you do step into the surgery, the usual flow is fairly structured. That helps rule out the dangerous causes first, then the common ones.

Expect:

Detailed questions about when the cold started, where you feel it, what improves or worsens it, and your general health changes.
A physical examination, including pulse, blood pressure lying and standing, heart and lungs, thyroid area, skin and circulation in your hands and feet.
Blood tests, commonly:
- Full blood count (for anaemia).
- Thyroid function tests.
- Vitamin B12, folate and sometimes vitamin D.
- Kidney and liver function, blood sugar, cholesterol.
- In some cases, cortisol or iron studies.

If something stands out-very low thyroid, a worrying anaemia, possible heart issues-you may be referred on to an endocrinologist, cardiologist, or other specialist. The goal is not simply to make you warmer; it’s to understand why the thermostat changed.

Staying warmer safely while you investigate

Even if tests are pending, you deserve to feel more comfortable. Endocrinologists often give pragmatic, low‑risk advice while they search for answers.

Helpful, realistic steps include:

Aim for at least 18–21°C indoors, especially if you have heart or lung disease. Use a room thermometer rather than relying on habit.
Dress in layers, including thin thermal tops and socks. Several light layers trap heat better than one heavy jumper.
Keep moving in short bursts. Gentle walks around the house, light chair exercises or climbing stairs a few extra times a day build heat‑making muscle over time.
Eat regular, balanced meals and snacks. Include protein (eggs, beans, meat, dairy, nuts) and some healthy fats. Extreme dieting after 60 is a fast track to feeling frozen.
Warm your extremities first. Gloves, thick socks, a hot‑water bottle on your feet can make your whole body feel better.

If money or housing is a concern, your GP or local council can often point you towards warm home schemes, grants or community hubs. Being cold is not just uncomfortable; for older adults it increases the risk of chest infections and heart strain, so support is a health issue, not a luxury.

Quick guide: normal chill vs possible red flag

What you notice	Likely category	What to do
Feel chilly in winter, fine once layered, energy otherwise normal	Age‑related change	Adjust home temperature, clothing and activity; mention at routine check‑up
New or worsening cold intolerance plus tiredness, weight change, dry skin or constipation	Possible thyroid or anaemia issue	Book a GP appointment within a few weeks for blood tests
Constant cold with breathlessness, chest discomfort, calf pain when walking, or dizziness	Possible heart or circulation problem	Seek urgent medical advice (same day) or NHS 111
Feeling shivery, very unwell, confused, or with a temperature	Infection or acute illness	Same‑day GP, urgent care or 999 depending on severity

The bottom line: listen to the pattern, not just the temperature

Feeling colder after 60 is common, but not always harmless. Your body’s complaints are rarely random; they tend to come as a chorus. Cold hands might be a soloist. Cold hands plus exhaustion, weight change, paleness or foggy thinking is a choir worth listening to.

You do not need to know the name of the hormone or the vitamin to be taken seriously. You only need to notice, “This is new for me, it’s not getting better, and it’s affecting my life.” That is enough reason to ask for tests, for explanations, and for treatment where needed.

Warmth is not just a comfort; it’s a sign that your body has the energy and circulation it needs. If yours seems to have lost that, you’re not being fussy. You’re paying attention-and that attention could be the red flag that gets you the help you deserve.

FAQ:

Is feeling cold all the time just part of getting older? Some increased sensitivity is normal with age, but sudden, severe or very disruptive cold intolerance-especially with other symptoms-is not something to dismiss.

Can I have thyroid problems even if my last test was “normal”? Yes. Levels can change over time, and borderline results may become more significant as you age. If your symptoms have changed, it is reasonable to repeat tests.

Should I worry if only my hands and feet are cold? Mildly cold extremities are common, but if they are very painful, change colour, or are accompanied by tiredness or breathlessness, get them checked.

Will hormone treatment definitely make me feel warmer? If a hormone deficiency such as hypothyroidism or low cortisol is found and treated, many people do feel less cold, but improvement can be gradual and varies by person.

What if my tests are all normal but I still feel cold? Ask your doctor to review non‑endocrine causes (heart, circulation, nutrition, medications) and discuss practical strategies to stay warm and safe; you deserve comfort even when results look reassuring.