Ask the Doctor

What causes shivering?

My 5-year-old daughter shivers a lot. Even when she doesn’t have any cold. Kindly let me know what causes shivering and how it can be managed.

Uzoma (by SMS)

 

People shiver for many reasons, such as fever, being cold, and more. When people are cold, the muscles in their body will contract and relax rapidly to generate heat. This causes part or all of the body to shiver or shake. People can still shiver on a warm day if there is a cool breeze or they are sitting in the shade. Shivering is an involuntary movement of the body, which means that it is uncontrolled.

Hiccups and sneezing are other examples of involuntary movements. Shivering occurs most commonly when a person is cold. When muscles move, they generate heat. Therefore, when a person is cold, their muscles begin to quickly tighten and loosen over and over again to produce heat.

This is known as shivering. It is usually temporary and should stop once the individual warms up. However, shivering can also be a symptom of physical or mental illness. Other causes of shivering may be due to an underlying medical condition.

Strategies to help stop shivering may depend on the cause, but can include deep breathing, using extra blankets, and medical treatment. If these efforts do not improve, kindly let your daughter see a doctor at the Specialist or Teaching Hospital nearest to you.

READ ALSO: Cheers as Tinubu, Atiku meet during Jumat prayers

Dr. Wale Okediran

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