Halting Hypothermia
Cold Can Be Dangerous

\n $\"Illustration$ \n

The frosty air of winter can be invigorating. But cold air can also pose threats to your health, whether you\u2019re indoors or outside. If your body temperature drops too low, it can lead to a serious, sometimes deadly condition known as hypothermia. Learn to recognize the signs of this condition, and take steps to keep yourself and your family warm and safe during this chilly season.

A normal body temperature is 98.6 \u00b0F. Just a few degrees lower\u2014below 95\u00b0\u2014can be dangerous, especially for the very young and very old.

\u201cThe body is finely tuned to operate within a narrow temperature range inside the body, despite large differences in temperature outside the body. We have all sorts of mechanisms\u2014like adjusting the size of our small blood vessels and shivering\u2014to help us maintain a healthy body temperature,\u201d says NIH\u2019s Dr. Basil Eldadah, who oversees research on the medical care of older adults. \u201cBut older adults and young children are more susceptible to the effects of outside temperature changes. When the body\u2019s inside temperature strays beyond that narrow range, body functions don\u2019t operate well.\u201d

Low body temperatures can impair vital organs. When cold affects the body, people may have trouble thinking clearly, talking properly, or moving well. They may not realize what\u2019s happening, or they might not be able to take steps to warm up or ask for help.

Anyone who spends much time outdoors in very cold weather can get hypothermia. But hypothermia can happen anywhere\u2014not just outside and not just in bitter winter weather. It can strike when temperatures are cool\u2014for example, if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or being in cold water.

\u201cEven during the heat of summer, older people and very small children are at risk if air conditioning makes their homes too cold,\u201d Eldadah says. Certain medications and alcohol can also raise the risk for hypothermia.

Left untreated, hypothermia can quickly turn dangerous. Several hundred people in the U.S.\u2014half of them age 65 or older\u2014die from hypothermia each year.

\u201cIf you suspect that someone you know or love may be at risk of hypothermia, it\u2019s important to know the signs and symptoms, and take quick action if needed,\u201d Eldadah says. \u201cFirst get the person out of the cold or wet environment if possible, remove any wet clothes, and cover the person with dry blankets or whatever\u2019s handy.\u201d Offer the person something warm to drink, but avoid alcohol or caffeinated beverages like coffee.

\u201cAlso avoid things like a hot-water bath or a heating pad,\u201d says Eldadah. \u201cExternal heat sources for hypothermia can be risky because of the potential for things like burns, low blood pressure, or irregular heart rhythms. Active rewarming techniques are best used in settings where doctors can closely monitor a patient\u2019s vital signs, so getting professional help is important.\u201d

To help prevent hypothermia in the first place, Eldadah says, \u201cFollow some of the common sense advice that we\u2019ve probably all heard. Dress in layers; cover up with blankets; and if you expect to be out in the wind, rain or snow, wear a jacket with a waterproof and windproof outer shell.\u201d

To keep warm at home, wear socks, slippers, and a cap or hat. Set your heat at 68\u00b0 or higher when it\u2019s cold outside. To save on heating bills, close off rooms you\u2019re not using. If you need help paying your home heating bills, you may qualify for an energy assistance program. Learn more here $\"http://newsinhealth-test.od.nih.gov/images2/extLink.gif\"$ .

NIH News in Health, December 2015

Halting Hypothermia Cold Can Be Dangerous

Halting Hypothermia
Cold Can Be Dangerous