Increased Cold Sensitivity
Low tolerance for cold or increased cold sensitivity is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. The thyroid hormones regulate body temperature by signaling various systems in the body to convert and use stored energy in the body. [5]
The rate of this metabolism is much lower in people with underactive thyroid glands. This means there’s much less heat produced in the body to combat an external drop in temperature. As a result, people with underactive thyroids are more susceptible to coldness. When they are exposed to very low temperatures, their bodies try to preserve heat by drawing blood away from the extremities.
People with underactive thyroids are at a greater risk of hypothermia, a life-threatening condition characterized by subnormal body temperatures.