We all have different preferences for when it’s the right time to get out the winter blankets. And the thermostat setting is often the basis of office arguments between women and men regarding the “correct” temperature to set it.
Between the sexes there are always more similarities than differences† But research consistently shows Ladies prefer a higher indoor temperature for men.
But is there any science to support the widely held belief that women “feel the cold more” than men?
Biological differences between men and women
At about the same body weight, Ladies tend to have less muscle generate heat. Women also have more fat between the skin and the muscles, so the skin feels colderbecause it is a little further away from blood vessels.
Women often have a lower metabolism than men, which reduces heat production capacity during cold exposure, making women more susceptible to cold when temperatures drop.
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Why are my hands and feet always cold? And when should I worry?
Hormonal Differences
The hormones estrogen and progesterone, which are found in high amounts in women, contribute to the core body and skin temperature.
Estrogen widens blood vessels on the extremities† As a result, more heat can be lost to the ambient air. And progesterone can cause the blood vessels in the skin constrict, which means less blood will flow to some areas to keep the internal organs warmer, making women feel cooler. This hormone balance changes during the month along with the menstrual cycle.
Hormones also make women handsfeet and ears stay about three degrees Celsius cooler than men’s.
The core body temperature is highest in the following week ovulation, as progesterone levels increase. This means that women can be particularly sensitive to cooler outdoor temperatures around this time.
Although the hands and feet are cooler, women have higher core temperatures on average than men. This is probably the source of the saying “cold hands warm heart†
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Is it just people?
The phenomenon that some of us prefer warmer temperatures over others is not unique to humans. Studies on many species birds and mammals report that males usually congregate in cooler areas where there is shade, while females and offspring reside in warmer areas where there is sunlight.
Male bats prefer to rest on the cool, high peaks of the mountains, while the females stay in the warmer ones valleys†
Female mammals may have developed a preference for warmer climates to encourage them to rest with their offspring during stages when the young cannot regulate their own body temperature.
So the difference between heat-sensitive mechanisms can be an evolutionary: benefit†
So how do we agree on the ideal temperature?
the “Scandinavian sleeping method”, where couples sleep with separate blankets, is one way to overcome the differences in temperature preferences.
In the workplace, personal comfort systems are thermal systems that heat or cool and can be placed locally in individual workstations such as desktops, chairs or at the feet and legs. Examples include: small desk fans, heated chairs and blankets, or foot warmers.
These systems provide individualized thermal comfort to meet personal needs without affecting others in the same space, and have been shown to produce higher comfort satisfaction in the workshop.
They can also be an energy-efficient method of balancing thermal comfort and health office environments†
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Curious Kids: If our body is happy at 37℃, why do we feel so unhappy when it’s too hot outside?
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