Why Do Humans Shiver When They're Cold?

When your body is cold, it starts to shake, that's shivering! Imagine you're a little engine trying to keep warm by running really fast. Every time you shake, you make more heat inside your body so you can stay cozy again. It's like when you wrap yourself in blankets and start jumping around to get warmer.

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Examples

A child outside without a jacket starts shaking because their body is trying to make more heat.
You get shivery when you're sitting on the floor in winter and your legs are freezing.
Your dog starts shivering on the porch after being out in the snow for too long.

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Categories: Health · shivering· body temperature· cold· physiology· survival mechanisms