Man: it’s so hot. How about turning the air conditioning temperature down again?
Woman: No, I’m so cold
Think about it. Do such conversations often appear in hot summer?
He was wearing short sleeves and blowing the air conditioner, while she was drinking hot water in a blanket.
They are in the same room while seem in the different seasons.
In life, for the perception of temperature, there seems to be a deep gap between men and women…
“Men are afraid of heat, women are afraid of cold”, what makes this difference? “Men should be raised in cold environment, and women should be raised in warm”, is there any scientific basis? Is fear of cold a disease?
After reading this article, you will have the answer!
The first thing to understand is that when studying body temperature, the human body is usually divided into two parts: the core and the surface. The temperature of the core part (brain, inside the chest and abdomen) is called the core temperature, and the temperature of the surface (skin) part is called the body surface temperature. The core temperature is relatively stable. The human body controls the core temperature by balancing heat loss and heat production.
When exposed to a hot environment, the temperature receptors in the skin and mucous membranes are activated, and the signals are fed back to the brain. The brain will send appropriate signals and instructions to expand the blood vessels of the skin and release heat. When exposed to a cold environment, people reduce heat loss by shrinking blood vessels in the skin, 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
Studies have found that gender differences in temperature perception are not unique to humans. The temperature receptors of female mice are more sensitive to low temperatures. Males and females tend to separate during the breeding season, and males tend to live in cool places.
Although women’s body temperature (core temperature) is on average 0.3°C 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 is 2.8°C 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 temperature difference between the core temperature and the temperature sensor, the more cold the body will feel.
2. The metabolic rate of men is about 20% higher than that of women. Men have a high basal metabolic rate. They like to eat protein, eat a lot, and have a lot of activity to increase the metabolic rate, and the caloric production will increase accordingly.
3. Muscles can help the body produce heat and maintain body temperature. Men’s muscle groups tend to be larger than women’s, which means that men can produce more calories.
4. Women lose heat faster. Women are smaller than men in body size and weight. The ratio of women’s body surface area to volume is greater, which means that women dissipate heat faster.
5. On average, women’s body fat is about 10% higher than that of men. This can protect important organs in the body from the cold, and these fats will play a role in insulation, so women’s skin temperature tends to be lower. This is a bit like adding insulation to the house.
6. Female blood vessels are more sensitive to cold. When cold, the contraction of peripheral blood vessels can maintain the core body temperature, and it also increases the insulating ability of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. In addition, estrogen increases blood viscosity and slows blood flow in the hands and feet.
There is a popular saying on the Internet that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, so men should be raised “cold” and women should be raised “hot”.
It is not entirely correct. Personal warmth and comfort are not only related to gender, but also to age, physical fitness, health status, and mental state, and cannot be generalized.
The best health regimen is healthy living habits, moderate exercise, good mood and sleep.
Fear of cold may be one of the symptoms of certain diseases, such as:
Hypothyroidism: The thyroid gland cannot produce enough thyroxine to promote metabolism. Patients usually show fear of cold, fatigue, sluggishness and weakness.
Raynaud’s disease: acral arteriole spasm. People with Raynaud’s disease experience 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, accompanied by dizziness and pale complexion.
Diabetes: Diabetic peripheral neurovascular disease can also cause cold feeling, accompanied by numbness and pain at the extremities.
Add clothes in time: Wearing a few more lightweight clothes will keep you warmer than wearing a thicker one. Cold hands and feet are usually caused by the body to maintain 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 cause nerve damage, cold and numbness at the extremities. Maintaining adequate moisture is also critical.
Avoid sitting for a long time and exercise more. Exercise can speed up the blood flow in the body. The more exercise, the more muscles and the more heat the body generates during rest.
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