“Men are afraid of heat, women are afraid of cold.” What makes this difference? ” Is there any scientific basis for “men should be kept cold and women should be kept hot”? Is it a disease to be afraid of cold?
After reading this article, you will have the answer!
Why are men afraid of heat and women afraid of cold?
First of all, it is important to understand that when body temperature is studied, the human body is usually divided into two parts, the core and the surface. The temperature of the core part (brain, chest and abdominal cavity) is called the core temperature, and the temperature of the surface part (skin) is called the body surface temperature. Core temperature is relatively stable, and the body controls core temperature by balancing heat loss and heat production.
When exposed to heat, the temperature receptors in the skin and mucosa are activated and feed back signals to the brain, which sends appropriate signals and instructions to dilate skin blood vessels and release heat. When exposed to a cold environment, people reduce heat loss by contracting skin blood vessels, etc. At this time, the skin temperature will drop, and the hands and feet will feel cold.
There are several reasons for the difference in temperature perception between men and women:
1. Heredity and evolution
The study found that gender differences in temperature perception are not specific to humans. Female mice have thermoreceptors that are more sensitive to low temperatures. Males and females tend to separate during the breeding season. Males prefer to live in cool places.
Although women’s body temperature (core temperature) is on average 0.3 degrees Celsius higher than that of men, the average temperature of women’s hands is lower than that of men. A study in the Lancet found that the average temperature of women’s hands was 2.8 degrees Celsius lower than that of men. This temperature difference means that women are better at keeping warm than men, and women are more likely to perceive cold. The greater the difference between the core temperature and the temperature of the thermoreceptors, the colder the body will feel.
2. Men’s metabolic rate is about 20% higher than that of women. Men’s high basal metabolic rate, like to eat protein, large appetite, large amount of activity can increase the metabolic rate, heat production will increase.
3. Muscles can help the body generate heat and maintain body temperature. Men tend to have larger muscle groups than women, which means men can produce more heat.
4. Women lose calories faster. Women are smaller than men in terms of size and weight. Women have a larger ratio of body surface area to volume, which means that women lose heat faster.
5. The average body fat of women is about 10% more than that of men. This protects the vital organs in the body from the cold, and these fats act as insulation, so women tend to have lower skin temperatures. It’s kind of like adding insulation to the house.
6. Women’s blood vessels are more sensitive to cold. When exposed to cold, the contraction of peripheral blood vessels can maintain core body temperature and increase the insulation capacity of skin and subcutaneous tissue. In addition, estrogen increases blood viscosity and slows blood flow to the hands and feet.
Men should be “cold” and women should be “hot”?
There is a popular saying on the Internet that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, so men should be “cold” and women should be “hot”.
This sentence is not entirely correct. Personal warm comfort is not only related to gender, but also to age, physique, health status and psychological state, which can not be generalized.
The best regimen is healthy living habits, moderate exercise, good mood and sleep.
Is it a disease to be afraid of cold?
Fear of cold may be one of the symptoms of a disease, such as:
Hypothyroidism: The thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroxine to promote metabolism, and the patient is usually cold, tired, sluggish and weak.
Raynaud’s disease: Spasm of small arteries in the extremities. People with Raynaud’s have pain in their fingers, toes, and peripheral areas when they are cold.
Anemia: The patient has cold hands and feet due to poor peripheral blood circulation of the limbs, accompanied by dizziness,
pallor, etc.
Diabetes mellitus: Diabetic peripheral neurovascular disease can also cause the feeling of fear of cold, accompanied by numbness and pain at the end of the limbs.
How best to keep warm?
Add clothing in time: Wear a few more light clothes than a thick one to keep you warm. Cold hands and feet are usually caused by the body maintaining core temperature in order to reduce energy loss. If your hands and feet are cold, don’t just think about wearing gloves. Adding clothes is also an option.
Regular diet: Regular diet helps maintain blood sugar levels and ensure the body’s energy needs. Lack of vitamins can lead to nerve damage, cold extremities, numbness and so on. Staying hydrated is also critical.
Avoid sitting for a long time and exercise more. Exercise speeds up the blood flow in the body. The more you exercise, the more muscle you have, and the more heat your body produces at rest.