Hypothermia is a medical emergency caused when the body loses heat faster than it can be produced. The consequence of this is a dangerous drop in body temperature.
If the body’s temperature falls below 35 degrees Celsius, then vital organs and the nervous system can no longer function normally; this is why hypothermia needs to be treated promptly.
When left untreated, hypothermia can result in heart and respiratory system failure and even death. Hypothermia is traditionally thought of as a condition caused by exposure to the elements, but are there other factors that can lead to its development?
Whether running a bath or shower, we only get in when the temperature is just right, which means warm to hot. Cold baths and showers can help cool us in extreme heat waves where the body might struggle to cool down. Even if a high fever is present, then cold water is usually applied to the head rather than the entire body.
However, if the body is submerged in cold water for an extended period of time, then this can prevent it from retaining the correct temperature needed to function properly. A situation like this can easily lead to hypothermia.
If, for whatever reason, the body remains in cold water, then the situation can become life-threatening, especially if classic symptoms of hypothermia develop, such as confusion, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness.
Alcohol causes the blood vessels in the body to dilate, and this can lead to loss of body heat. The shivering response of the body is also lowered when alcohol has been consumed.
Alcohol and recreational drug abuse can lead to poor judgment regarding weather conditions and temperatures outside. Abuse of both can cause unconsciousness. If this occurs outdoors, then individuals are at the mercy of the elements, such as rain, low temperatures, and cold winds.
People are usually in control of the environment in their homes, but many individuals live in damp conditions and in inadequately heated housing for various social reasons. This can become a hypothermia risk, especially in the winter months.
The elderly and the very young are at a particularly high risk of developing this condition during the winter due to poor living conditions.
Even the misuse of air conditioning during the summer months can lead to the development of hypothermia, as this can also interfere with the regulation of body temperature.
Clothing is supposed to offer the body protection against the elements, whether it is to keep the body warm and dry or to protect the skin from the sun.
However, in certain cases, clothes can get wet. If this happens whilst outside and exposed to the elements, then this can cool the body and prevent it from warming due to the close contact of wet clothing on the skin – again, the consequences of such a situation can lead to hypothermia.
Certain health conditions can make individuals more susceptible to developing hypothermia. Hypothyroidism is an example, as it affects an individual’s ability to regulate their body temperature.
Any long-term exposure to low temperatures can push the body’s temperature below what is needed for the vital organs to function normally. Hypothyroidism can also interfere with efforts to restore body temperature back to normal.
Age is an important factor as the old and very young are at greater risk of developing hypothermia than others. In the elderly, the body’s ability to regulate temperature is lessened.
In the very young, body heat is lost faster than in adults. Children also do not have the judgment of an adult when it comes to dressing appropriately for certain weather conditions. They are more likely to remain out in the cold instead of seeking warmth.