Energy & vitality · Temperature
Cold intolerance
Feeling cold when others are comfortable - especially in hands and feet, and especially as a new symptom - is one of the most specific thyroid signals there is.
Feels like
Does this sound like you?
- Cold hands and feet year-round
- Needing a sweater when others are in t-shirts
- Raynaud's-like color changes in fingers
- Basal body temperature trending below 97.5 °F
What to measure
The biomarkers that explain this symptom.
Grouped by the panel that tests them. We usually recommend running the top two panels together - patterns only show when you can see biomarkers next to each other.
Panel
thyroid
- TSH / Free T4 / Free T3Thyroid regulates basal metabolic rate. Low thyroid = low heat.
- Reverse T3When cells aren't converting T4 to active T3, you get the symptom with normal TSH.
- TPO AntibodiesAutoimmune thyroid disease often starts with cold intolerance before TSH moves.
Panel
nutrients
- FerritinIron deficiency impairs temperature regulation independent of anemia.
Patterns we see
Three common clusters.
Your specific pattern will be unique, but most people land in one of these.
01
Classic hypothyroid
TSH 3.5+, free T3 low-normal, cold hands and feet.
02
T3-conversion
Normal TSH, elevated reverse T3, symptoms despite good labs on paper.
03
Iron-linked
Ferritin <30, normal thyroid - common in menstruating women.
Ready to look?
Order the thyroid + nutrients panels.
Running the top two panels together is what lets us see patterns. Add a third if you want a fuller picture - most people benefit from the trio.