4 ways to get rid of the chills

You’re lounging on the couch watching your favorite TV show when, all of a sudden, you notice you’re cold. And it’s not a regular cold; it’s a bone-deep freeze that causes you to shiver. Maybe your teeth chatter or your skin goes pale. If this has ever happened to you, you most likely have experienced the chills.

Chills (otherwise known as shivering) are the rapid contracting and releasing of muscles to regulate the body’s internal temperature, according to Payal Sud, MD, the associate chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York. 

But why do we get body chills, and, more importantly, how do we relieve them fast? Read on to learn everything you should know about this symptom that could be a sign of a few illnesses.

What causes chills?

There are several reasons someone might experience the chills, ranging from being in cold temperatures to being sick. They include:

• Cold environment: Whether it’s time spent outside in the snow or inside next to an overzealous air conditioner, you might experience the chills as your body tries to warm itself. Getting wet in non-freezing temps can also cause chills. (Think: a rainy autumn run or a late spring swim.) “If you have wet clothes on, as the water evaporates, it’s taking even more heat away from your body,” Dr. Sud says. 
• Viral infections: Oftentimes, chills precede a fever and can be a sign that your immune system is trying to fight something off. Viral infections such as the common cold, influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 are accompanied by chills. (It’s worth noting that while chills often accompany a fever, they don’t always. You can have a fever without chills and chills without a fever.) 
• Bacterial infections: Chills may also be present during a bacterial infection, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), strep throat, pneumonia (which can be caused by a virus or bacteria), and even sepsis. (If you suspect you have sepsis, seek medical care immediately.)
• Malaria: The symptoms of this mosquito-borne disease typically include chills and fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
• Hormone shifts: Women in perimenopause or menopause experiencing hot flashes often sweat and then afterward have chills. Additionally, men or women may experience chills if they have hypothyroidism (in which the body doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone). 
• Anemia: This condition occurs when there aren’t enough red blood cells (or hemoglobin) to transport oxygen in the blood. Dr. Sud says that women with heavy periods may experience chills during their menstrual cycle. “Not having enough blood circulating in your body can make you feel chilly,” she says.
• Hypoglycemia: For someone with diabetes, low blood sugar can trigger shivers. 
• Anesthesia and withdrawals: During surgical procedures in which anesthesia is used, body temperature will usually drop, so coming out of anesthesia, you may feel cold. The same goes for coming off of a medication or drug cold turkey. 
• Extreme stress: Here’s one that might not have been on your radar. Heightened emotional states can sometimes cause a shivering response. “If someone is in a situation where they feel fear, that can activate the nervous system and cause chills,” says Jennifer Corliss, MD, family medicine physician at UCHealth in Colorado.

Symptoms that occur with chills

Shivering, goosebumps, and pale skin often accompany chills. Other symptoms will vary depending on the causes of your chills. 

For instance, if you’re shivering due to a UTI, you may also experience frequent urination and abdominal pain, as those are common symptoms of that infection. For strep throat, it might be a sore throat and swollen tonsils. 

How to get rid of the chills

The best way to relieve your shivering depends on why it happens—there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Once you know the cause (environmental versus infection, for instance), you can choose the method that makes the most sense for you. Here are four approaches to try.

1. Get to a warmer environment

If your internal temperature has dropped because you’re outside in the cold or sitting in a drafty room, move to a location with a higher temperature. You may need to come inside from the outdoors, close a window, turn down the air conditioner (or the heater up), or take a hot shower. These should all help raise your core temperature. 

2. Cover yourself with a blanket 

No matter the cause of your body chills, making yourself cozy and comfortable will go a long way toward finding some relief. “Drinking a warm cup of tea and making sure that you have your robe or warm blanket on are all-natural ways to help bring down the chills and to eliminate them,” Dr. Corliss says. 

Suppose your body is alternating between chills and fever. In that case, you may need to shed the robe or blanket to reduce your body temperature if you’re overheating during the fever stage, and that’s okay, says Dr. Corliss. Follow your body’s signals to know whether to bundle up or remove a layer. 

3. Take over-the-counter medications

If your chills are caused by an infection like the common cold or COVID-19, there are OTC medicines you can pick up at your pharmacy to help relieve your symptoms. These include:

• Acetaminophen. This is one of the most common medicines for treating chills, fever, and body aches and pain (known by its brand name Tylenol). Dr. Sud cautions against taking Tylenol if you have liver problems and warns against accidental “double-dosing” of acetaminophen, as many combination medications like NyQuil, DayQuil, and TheraFlu also contain the medicine. Check the labels to ensure you’re not taking multiple medications at one time that contain acetaminophen. 
• Ibuprofen. Known by brand names like Advil and Motrin, ibuprofen can help treat chills. Since it can irritate the stomach, Dr. Sud recommends taking it with food. (Be mindful if you have kidney problems, as ibuprofen can worsen them.) 
• Aspirin. While this medication reduces fever and chills, it’s primarily used as a blood thinner. Dr. Sud stresses that those already on blood thinners must exercise caution in taking aspirin. (Because of aspirin’s link to Reye’s Syndrome, a rare health condition that causes swelling in the liver and brain, you should not give aspirin to children for fever and chills.) 

Additionally, if you’re fighting off an infection, Dr. Corliss stresses drinking plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. And be sure to get plenty of rest. 

4. Address underlying medical conditions

If another health issue is causing your chills, proactively managing your condition should alleviate your shivers. For instance, if you have diabetes and experience hypoglycemia, Dr. Sud recommends checking your blood sugar levels and drinking juice or taking a glucose tablet to regulate them.  

When to see a doctor for chills

Chills will often go away independently with regular home care as your body fights whatever infection may be causing them. But there are instances in which you will need to seek medical attention. 

If you have diabetes and your blood sugar is very low, you need to raise your blood sugar levels to above 80 and get evaluated by a healthcare provider. Dr. Sud recommends seeing your healthcare provider immediately when you have chills. 

Also, if you have a persistent high fever (usually 102 degrees F and above, according to Harvard Medical School), that’s an indication you should see a healthcare provider. If your chills are accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, a stiff neck, or loss of appetite, you should also seek medical care.