Dear Cinda: Why is My Wife Always Chilly?

Hi, my wife reads your blog and I thought I might as well ask a question that’s been bothering me.

We’ve been trying to cut back on various expenditures lately, and one of the things we (okay I) decided to do was turn the thermostat down. After seeing her bundle up like we were in the middle of the Arctic when the temperature was a healthy 68 degrees, the thermostat went back to where it was.

I’ve noticed similar behavior with some of the women in my office too, so it can’t just be her. Just why is it that women feel chilly more often than men?

Dear Sir,

Thank you kindly for your letter.

First, let me applaud you: What a thoughtful husband you are, for seeking help in order to better serve your wife. She is one lucky lady – good job!

To answer your question:

If we rule out the instances, where the woman is simply anemic or has a low blood count, several theories can explain this phenomenon:

•  Compared to men, women conserve more heat around their core organs, which means that less heat circulate throughout the rest of their body.
• Men have more muscle mass. The more muscle, the more blood flow and the more warmth.
• It is neither fair, nor flattering, but women have a higher ratio of surface to volume than men and thus shed heat faster, as heat generation is determined by volume, while heat dissipation is determined by skin surface area.
• As temperatures drop, women shut off blood flow to the skin sooner than men (i.e to provide more warmth to their unborn babies), so they feel colder.

In conclusion: Women feel chilly more often than men simply because we are more delicate creatures.

Hot man that you are, this holds several advantages to you!

A cold woman needs to be warmed up – and there is no limit to the many ways you might do that!

Might I suggest:

• Buy her a fur coat – that will keep your girl nice and toasty.
• A box of her favorite chocolate will render the poor woman some much needed fattening up.
• Mix her a champagne cocktail; it will get the blood rolling in those lovely cheeks of hers in no time.
• Draw her a hot bubble bath – and be a dear and give the towels a 10 minute tumble in the dryer, so that they are nice and warm too. Aren’t you sweet?
• Rub those cold little piggies – give your darling a nice foot massage.
• Dancing. Take her for a spin on that dance floor and show her your moves – that should get her temperature up!
• A healthy romp! Noooo, not the usual 2-minute- was-it-good-for-you?-Yeah-Yeah-pass-me-my-book! We’re talking the full blown trains-driving-into-tunnels-waves-crashing-on-to-the-beach-rocketships-being-launched-fireworks-going-off-treatment. You heard me: Make. Her. Sweat!

This advice is aimed at your wife, not the gals in the office!

Keeping you woman warm will keep her happy and keeping your woman happy will keep you happy. I promise.

Many warm thoughts,

Cinda