Why Do We Feel Cold When We Have a Fever?

Getting sick is no fun, especially when you have a fever and need to stay in bed until you’re better. Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sickness and disease entered the world. Now germs are part of our lives, and we sometimes get sick.

Have you ever shivered when you have a fever? Why do we feel cold when we are actually warmer than usual? The answer lies in a part of your brain called the hypothalamus (hi-puh-THAH-luh-muhs). The hypothalamus controls the temperature of your body. When you have a fever, your hypothalamus cranks up the heat to fire up your white blood cell production. White blood cells are your body’s germ fighters. When more of them are working to get rid of the invaders, you will feel better more quickly. If your body is colder than the hypothalamus says you should be, you will start shivering and feel cold as you warm up. Shivering produces heat and will help you reach the temperature your hypothalamus wants you to be at.

When your body has fought off the illness and your fever breaks, you will start sweating to get rid of the extra heat the hypothalamus says you don’t need anymore.

It’s not fun to have a fever, but God designed our incredible bodies to deal with illness so that we can heal and be healthy again.

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