Pochemy.net
health_and_safety Human Body

Why is it when I have a cold or flu, I sometimes feel really cold and start shivering violently, even though when I feel my skin I’m warm?

Mark Sterling
Mark Sterling
Research Editor · Jan 16, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

This is a side effect of fever. Your body temperature is above normal, but your brain wants you running hot in order to help kill the infection, so encourages you to seek warmth. This is on top of the fact that because of your increased body temperature, surrounding air feels that much colder com…

69
Words

1 min
Read Time

#220
of 500 in Human Body

+0%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

This is a side effect of fever. Your body temperature is above normal, but your brain wants you running hot in order to help kill the infection, so encourages you to seek warmth. This is on top of the fact that because of your increased body temperature, surrounding air feels that much colder compared to your skin temperature. There are many fever-reducing medications available OTC like ibuprofen and acetaminophen

Analysis

Key Concepts: Temperature, body, side

This explanation focuses on temperature, body, side and spans 69 words across 4 sentences. The depth is typical for Human Body questions (category average: 69 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “This is a side effect of fever.” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 4 connected points.

How This Compares in Human Body

Ranked #220 of 500 Human Body questions by answer depth (top 45%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why it when i have a cold or flu, i sometimes feel really cold and start shivering violently, even though when i feel my skin i'm warm?

This is a side effect of fever. Your body temperature is above normal, but your brain wants you running hot in order to help kill the infection, so encourages you to seek warmth. This is on top of the fact that because of your increased body…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Human Body questions?

This is an above-average answer at 69 words, ranked #220 of 500 Human Body questions by depth. The key concepts covered are temperature, body, side.

What approach does this answer take to explain it when i have a cold or flu, i sometimes feel really cold a?

The explanation uses root cause analysis and contrasting perspectives across 69 words. It is categorized under Human Body and addresses the question through 2 analytical lenses.