8 Potential Side Effects of the Flu Shot You Might Not Know About, According to Doctors

Can You Have Coronavirus (COVID-19) With Chills And No Fever?

You can have COVID-19 with chills and no fever, but it's more likely to have both symptoms. Chills—and severe chills, medically known as rigors—are episodes of shivering, feeling cold, and being pale. They are often a result of a fever or the beginning of a fever.

Chills are a sign of COVID, but they don't necessarily indicate having the virus. Chills are not specific to COVID. They're classically seen in many types of bacterial or viral infections, especially influenza.

COVID symptoms can vary individually based on the variant or your vaccination status. The primary symptoms generally include: Cough Diarrhea Fever or chills Headache Malaise, or a general ill feeling  Muscle pain Nausea or vomiting New loss of taste or smell Sore throat You can develop chills but no fever if you have COVID as part of the body's immune response. It's unlikely you would get chills but not have any other symptoms. Chills usually don't occur by themselves but are part of a fever, muscle aches, headache, and other systemic symptoms. A fever is commonly caused by a germ like SARS-CoV-2, or the virus that causes COVID. This increase in body temperature stimulates the body to release inflammatory chemicals. These substances try to rid you of the illness, which can raise your body temperature. You may feel cold, and your muscles shake to generate heat and warm your body. Chills typically get better when you reach a higher temperature. Chills aren't necessarily a symptom you can treat individually. They tend to be associated with a fever, but you help reduce chills if you: Stay hydrated Take medications like Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) if you have a fever Use lukewarm water for a sponge bath Keep in mind that medications that reduce a fever don't cure the infection. They can mask the symptoms, but you'll still be sick until the infection resolves itself. You could get another round of fever and chills after the medication wears off. It's important to speak with a healthcare provider if you develop chills and the following: Abdominal pain Confusion Frequent urination High fevers in infants and young children, or high fevers that don't improve with treatment or over time in adults Irritability Severe or worsening cough Shortness of breath Sluggishness Stiff neck COVID is a possible diagnosis if you have a fever, chills, dry cough, and muscle aches. You need testing to confirm if you have COVID. Seek medical attention for severe signs of COVID, such as chest pain or pressure, trouble breathing, or discolored lips or face. You may not be able to prevent chills if you get COVID, but there are ways to lower the risk of getting the infection. You can protect yourself and others from COVID by: Covering your coughs and sneezes with the crook of your elbow or a tissue Opening the windows, using the fans, or installing high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaners in your home Regularly washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds Staying at home and avoiding contact with others if you do have COVID Staying up-to-date with COVID vaccinations Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if you don't have access to soap and water Wearing a high-quality mask that fits your face well Chills are one of the many signs of COVID. They're often associated with fever, which is one of the body's immune responses, but chills may occur with no fever. You can't treat chills themselves, but you can treat a fever—and infection overall—that's causing them. Just be sure to consult a healthcare provider if you have chills with severe symptoms like a stiff neck and shortness of breath. The information in this story is accurate as of publication. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.

Thanks for your feedback!

Study Links Hot Flashes To Brown Adipose Tissue Activity, Childhood Exposure To Cold

Just a moment...

This request seems a bit unusual, so we need to confirm that you're human. Please press and hold the button until it turns completely green. Thank you for your cooperation!

Press and Hold

Press and hold the button

If you believe this is an error, please contact our support team.

167.71.87.121 : 80af4d61-c8b3-4586-ac8a-b3e35939

Men: Hot Showers Could Be Affecting Your Fertility

Having hot showers could affect men's fertility, studies suggest.

An estimated one in six people globally will experience infertility in their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Men's fertility can be affected by a number of factors, including those we can't control like our genetics, but our lifestyle choices can also have a significant impact.

Sperm are very sensitive to heat—there's a reason they're kept on the outside of the body—and prolonged or repeated exposure to extreme temperatures can affect sperm concentration and motility.

Justin Chu, medical director at TFP Oxford Fertility in the U.K., told Newsweek: "It is recommended that you avoid hot showers and baths to ensure that sperm health is optimized. The life cycle of sperm is 90 days, and if the scrotum is too warm the motility and shape of the sperm cells can be negatively impacted, making it harder for the sperm to reach and penetrate the egg for natural conception to take place."

Image of a man taking a shower. Regular hot showers over a prolonged period could affect sperm motility, experts have warned. Image of a man taking a shower. Regular hot showers over a prolonged period could affect sperm motility, experts have warned. Torwai/Getty

A study published in 2007 found that men who showered at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for at least 30 minutes a week over a three-month period had a 22 percent lower sperm motility. Other small-scale studies have shown similar results following the long-term use of saunas, and among men who sit with warm laptops on their thighs or wear very tight underwear.

So, what is the optimum water temperature for showering if you are trying to conceive?

"Taking colder showers is thought to improve the quality and movement of your sperm," Chu said. "The ideal temperature for sperm production is around 34 to 35 degrees Celsius [93 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit], a few degrees lower than body temperature ... Therefore, it's recommended that you keep showers around this similar temperature."

Luckily, the negative impacts of hot showers (and other heat exposure) on sperm quality are temporary. "When showering at a lower temperature, sperm production should return to normal," Chu said. "While some researchers say it can take around one week for your sperm to return to its usual function, other studies have suggested a longer period, around two months. The actual time frame is unknown and could depend on the individual."

Is there a health problem that's worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.Com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.

References

Hassun Filho P. A. (2007). Re: Wet heat exposure: a potentially reversible cause of low semen quality in infertile men. International braz j urol : official journal of the Brazilian Society of Urology, 33(2), 269–270. Https://doi.Org/10.1590/s1677-55382007000200023

Garolla, A., Torino, M., Sartini, B., Cosci, I., Patassini, C., Carraro, U., & Foresta, C. (2013). Seminal and molecular evidence that sauna exposure affects human spermatogenesis. Human reproduction (Oxford, England), 28(4), 877–885. Https://doi.Org/10.1093/humrep/det020

---