Hypothermia is caused when the body loses heat faster than it can be generated. Symptoms of this condition include shivering, weak pulse, confusion, red cold skin, lack of coordination, shallow breathing, and loss of consciousness.
Hypothermia can affect anyone if the right conditions are present that prevent the body from warming. Some individuals are more susceptible than others to hypothermia, mostly due to age or preexisting health conditions.
The only suitable treatment for hypothermia is to raise the body’s temperature before it can fall below 35 degrees Celsius. If this happens, vital organs, including the heart, can malfunction, leading to death.
The elderly are at high risk of developing hypothermia as it takes longer for their bodies to generate heat. They are also more likely to live in homes with inadequate heating. Those over the age of 75 are particularly at risk, and so are the elderly, who may be malnourished due to illness or lack of appetite.
Most people would not link mental health problems with an increased risk of developing hypothermia. However, those with certain mental health conditions are more likely to develop this illness, mostly due to a lack of awareness of their environment.
Dementia, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are just some of the mental health problems that heighten the hypothermia risk. Failure to notice the climate can lead to individuals going out inadequately dressed or even staying out in cold weather for longer than is safe to do so without proper clothing, which could keep them warm and dry.
Having one or two drinks will not make individuals more susceptible to hypothermia. Drinking too much until the senses are affected could.
Those who drink excessively are more likely to not notice temperature or weather conditions. They are also less likely to be dressed correctly for the local climate. Furthermore, those who abuse alcohol may fall asleep outdoors or are at greater risk of having accidents that can lead to unconsciousness, leaving them exposed to the elements.
Some medications are known to interfere with the body’s ability to regulate its temperature. Medications such as antidepressants, sedatives, and antipsychotics are just a few examples of medications that can do this.
For those who are regular users of such drugs, avoiding any situations that can lead to hypothermia is highly advisable due to the fact that the body’s ability to warm itself may become impaired if exposed to cold weather, rain, or even cold water.
Furthermore, because of the effects these drugs have on the body, they could also have a negative impact on any attempts to treat hypothermia once it has developed.
Certain medical conditions can interfere with the body’s core temperature. They can also lessen the body’s ability to regulate body temperature.
Metabolic diseases such as diabetes, health conditions such as hypothyroidism, anorexia, and arthritis, and those with certain spinal injuries are at greater risk of developing hypothermia than those who are considered to be healthy.
For these individuals, once hypothermia develops, it could be harder to treat, leading to complications. Avoiding exposure to cold temperatures, rain, and cold water is important for sufferers of these and other medical conditions.
Wearing adequate warm and waterproof clothing can also help to prevent this condition if vulnerable individuals have to brave the elements.
Although hypothermia can be treated successfully, even in those who are medically vulnerable, prevention is better than a cure because hypothermia is, after all, an avoidable illness.