I have been hearing this term ’hypothermia’ a lot, because living in a country like georgia where winters get pretty cold can come with come with a consequence like this if not taken care of weather appropriate dressing.
What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia is a medical emergency, where body loses heat faster than it produces. Body temperature drops below 35 degree celsius, than a regular body temperature of 37 degree celsius.
Which factors can cause hypothermia?
- Prolonged exposure to cold weather conditions, if a person is not dressed properly to tolerate the cold it can cause hypothermia. Because cold weather can pull heat away from your body faster than internal organs can replace.
- Irrespective of the cold weather, staying in wet clothes for longer without drying up due to cooling that happens 25 times faster in wet clothes than dry air. Can make body susceptible to hypothermia.
- Also apart from cold weather, body that stays in water after a boat accident can experience hypothermia.
Risk factors:
- Old age people can be at a risk because ability of their body to regulate heat decreases along with aging.
- Kid’s body loses heat faster usually so they can be at a risk of getting hypothermia.
- Alcohol, because even if makes body feel warmer inside it causes blood vessels to expand making surface of the skin to lose heat faster.
- Certain medications like anti- depressants, anti- psychotics.
What are the symptoms of hypothermia?
- Exhaustion
- Slurred speech
- Mental confusion
- A person may stop shivering
Have you experienced hypothermia before?
MBH/PS