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Hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs in cold environments when the normal body temperature of 37°C (98.6°F) drops below 35° (95°F).
It can also happen due to prolonged exposure, rain, wind, sweat or being under cold water.
The usual response to getting too cold is to increase activity, however, if exposure continues then the body’s own automatic defence mechanisms will attempt to preserve further heat loss by:
- involuntary shivering to ensure major organs stay at normal temperature;
- restricting blood flow to the skin, and
- releasing hormones to generate heat.
These responses are usually inadequate to protect the body and they also drain energy reserves. It is when body energy is exhausted that hypothermia becomes potentially life-threatening.
Without treatment people with hypothermia can rapidly become very ill, lose consciousness and die. There is also an increased risk of stroke or heart attack due to blood clots forming.
It is important to treat the signs of hypothermia as a medical emergency, and to judge the symptoms rather than what a person says about their own condition. Hypothermia kills people every year - older people especially may not notice that their body temp has fallen, their rooms are too cold, or they can’t move about very well.
