SUBSCRIBE
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi

Here’s why women might ‘feel the cold’ more

by The Conversation
18th July 2022
in Trending
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
Nope, it's not all in your head if you always seem to be freezing while you're male coworkers are totally fine. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Nope, it's not all in your head if you always seem to be freezing while you're male coworkers are totally fine. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

We all have different preferences for when it’s the right time to bring out the winter blankets. And the thermostat’s setting often forms the basis of office arguments between women and men regarding the “correct” temperature for it to be set at.

Between the sexes, there are always more similarities than differences. But research does consistently show women prefer a higher indoor temperature than men.

But is there any science backing up the widespread belief women “feel the cold” more than men?

Biological differences between men and women

At around the same body weight, women tend to have less muscle to generate heat. Women also have more fat between the skin and the muscles, so the skin feels colder, as it’s slightly further away from blood vessels.

Women also tend to have a lower metabolic rate than men, which reduces heat production capacity during cold exposure, making women more prone to feeling cold as the temperature drops.

Hormonal differences

The hormones oestrogen and progesterone, found in large quantities in women, contribute to the core body and skin temperatures.

Oestrogen dilates blood vessels at the extremities. This means more heat can be lost to the surrounding air. And progesterone can cause the vessels in the skin to constrict, meaning less blood will flow to some areas to keep the internal organs warmer, leaving women feeling cooler. This hormone balance changes throughout the month alongside the menstrual cycle.

“The hormones also make women’s hands, feet and ears stay around three degrees Celsius cooler than men’s.”

The core body temperature is highest in the week after ovulation, as progesterone levels increase. This means that around this time, women may be particularly sensitive to cooler outside temperatures.

Although the hands and feet are cooler, women do have warmer average core temperatures than men. This is likely the source of the saying “cold hands, warm heart”.

Is it just humans?

The phenomenon that some of us prefer warmer temperatures to others isn’t unique to humans. Studies on many species of birds and mammals report that males commonly congregate in cooler areas where there is shade, while females and offspring stay in warmer environments where there is sunlight.

Male bats prefer to rest at the cool, high peaks of mountains, whereas females remain in the warmer valleys.

Female mammals may have developed a preference for warmer climates to encourage them to rest with offspring during stages when the young are unable to regulate their body temperature.

So the difference between heat-sensing mechanisms may provide an evolutionary advantage.

Women’s hands are around three degrees colder than men’s. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

So how do we agree on the ideal temperature?

The “Scandinavian sleep method”, where couples sleep with separate blankets, is one way to overcome the differences in temperature preferences.

In the workplace, personal comfort systems are thermal systems that heat or cool and can be locally positioned in individual work stations such as desktops, chairs, or near the feet and legs. Examples include small desk fans, heated chairs and blankets, or footwarmers.

These systems provide individualised thermal comfort to meet personal needs without affecting others in the same space, and have been found to produce higher comfort satisfaction in the workplace.

They may also be an energy-efficient method to balance thermal comfort and health in office environments.

This article was written by Charlotte Phelps and Christian Moro from Bond University and first appeared on The Conversation.

ALSO READ: Let’s talk about sex: What’s your magic number?

Tags: hormonesmenWomen
The Conversation

The Conversation

Related Articles

Lung disease
Trending

Beyond the cure: Many TB survivors face lung disease

by Chris Bateman
8th May 2025
Flu
Trending

Flu season is on! Time to get your shot

by Raylentia Simmons
23rd April 2025

Stories

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites
Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics
Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy
Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen
No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches
How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth
Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing
Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers
No Result
View All Result

Latest

Dietitian on a mission: Love, loss, and healing through food
Health Heroes

Dietitian on a mission: Love, loss, and healing through food

by Vateka Halile
12th May 2025

Pregnant at university. First in her family to study. Now a leader in chronic disease prevention. Dietitian Phumelele Mthembu didn’t...

Read moreDetails
Pregnancy

Fighting pregnancy fatigue: What your body might be telling you

9th May 2025
Lung disease

Beyond the cure: Many TB survivors face lung disease

8th May 2025

Time to revive Mzansi’s nutritious indigenous crops

7th May 2025
Indigenous foods

Indigenous foods: Nature’s wisdom in every nourishing bite

6th May 2025
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Awards & Impact
Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy
Copyright

Somagwaza

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites

cropped-scott-webb-yekGLpc3vro-unsplash.jpeg

Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics

Dr Sinethemba Makanya

Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy

Dietitian on a mission: Love, loss, and healing through food

Fighting pregnancy fatigue: What your body might be telling you

Beyond the cure: Many TB survivors face lung disease

Time to revive Mzansi’s nutritious indigenous crops

Indigenous foods: Nature’s wisdom in every nourishing bite

Art meets medicine: Mother and daughter share grit and glory

error: Content is protected !!
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers