When Ed Sheeran sings "You make me shiver with the fire you got ... You know you make me shiver-er-er," he's describing the goose-bumpy feeling you can get from intense emotions — triggered by everything from fear to desire.

But most of the time, shivers are your body's way of raising your core temperature by relaxing and contracting your muscles rapidly. This can be caused by acute problems such as infection or even a hangover.

However, if they're persistent, that’s likely related to a chronic disorder, and getting it diagnosed will warm you up and make you healthier.

If you consistently have the shivers, here's what to do:

• Get tested for low thyroid. You may have the autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's disease or an inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis).

• Get screened for anemia (low iron levels). In addition to the chills, anemia can cause pale skin, brittle nails, even shortness of breath and trouble concentrating.

• Check your vitamin B12 levels. A deficiency can be signaled by chills along with numbness or tingling in the hands and legs. Supplements or injections can help.

If you contend with insomnia, talk to a sleep specialist to find ways to overcome it. Lack of sleep makes your hypothalamus sluggish, and that’s the part of your brain that controls body temperature. 

If you have consistently chilly hands and feet (but nowhere else), the condition may be caused by Raynaud's disease, which affects around 5% of Americans. There are several diagnostic tests.

Frequent chills are a sign that you should talk to your doctor, so you’ll can have a warmer, healthier tomorrow.