What happens if you get hypothermia

When we think of hypothermia, our minds typically go to an accident where someone falls through the ice, is floating in sub zero sea waters or someone who is caught outside in the cold for too long. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. It may surprise you to know your body can lose a dangerous amount of heat even at room temperature if the conditions are right.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , older adults with inadequate heat, food and clothing and young children are at greater risk of getting hypothermia in any condition. Children generally tend to lose heat from their bodies faster than adults do.

Babies who sleep in cold bedrooms can also be at risk. The risk factors for hypothermia you probably think of first — wind chill, submersion in cold water and working outside in the cold — are all factors that can certainly rob your body of its heat. Certainly on your hands if you don't have the right equipment on. And when it gets cold like that, your body's going to pull blood from your hands, from your feet to your core to keep it warm.

That's when you get some issues in your hands, some frostbite in your hands and fingers. Troy Madsen: Basically, what it means is you got dead tissue there. You got tissue where there's just not enough blood supply there because the blood has been pulled away from it, and the temperatures have gotten so cold in that part of the body that the tissue actually dies.

So, real cases of frostbite, that's dead tissue. Oftentimes, if it's severe enough, you know, we'll have cases of people who come in with frostbitten toes.

I've seen cases, interestingly, of just people who are just out working, just out shoveling their snow. I've had a couple cases of that. They had some other medical problems that I think made things worse, but they've had amputations of some of their toes because of that, because the frostbite was so bad.

Troy Madsen: It can. It can. You know, usually, it may cause some cosmetic issues. Certainly if it's on your face, that can be a problem. But in some cases, you actually have to have an amputation. Host: What are the symptoms of either one of these that I need to watch out for?

You know, because I've been really cold before. Troy Madsen: I think the first one with hypothermia, you know, if you're shivering, that's a good sign. So you think the normal body temperature's Once it starts to drop down around 97 or 96, you're going to start shivering. And that's just your body's way of trying to produce heat. You shiver. It produces heat. It tries to warm up the core. But the really concerning thing is if you stop shivering.

That's when your body temperature gets less than 90 degrees, and that's where it becomes life threatening. Your heart just starts to do weird rhythms. It gets really slow. People should also consider creating a winter survival kit to keep in the car.

The kit should contain nonperishable food, blankets, a first aid kit, water, and necessary medications. Overexertion will not help, as this can lead to exhaustion and result in sweat-drenched clothing, both of which contribute to heat loss. A person who begins to experience or show signs of mild hypothermia should retreat to a warmer place immediately to prevent progression to a life-threatening condition.

Hypothermia can happen in summer too. Excessively cool air-conditioning or water-based activities pose a risk, especially for infants and older people who may not be able to express how they are feeling. An oral thermometer may not show a temperature this low. In either case, it is vital to seek urgent medical attention. Hypothermia can result from a chronically cold environment, such as during winter, or it can happen suddenly, for example, if a person falls into cold water.

The CDC stress that temperatures do not have to be excessively cold for hypothermia to develop. People lose heat more quickly in water than on land. Water temperatures that would be comfortable as outdoor air temperatures can lead to hypothermia.

Indoors, a lack of heating, excessive air conditioning or taking an ice bath can result in hypothermia. Indoor hypothermia often has a poor outcome, because it tends to affect older people, and the diagnosis often comes at a late stage. Results of a study published in showed that 75 percent of people who received medical treatment in New York City hospitals for cold-related illness were outdoors when this happened. Around half were sleeping rough, and another 25 percent had no heating at home.

Substance abuse or having a mental or physical health condition increased the risk. Other causes of hypothermia include metabolic disorders that result in a lower basal metabolic rate. These disorders cause the body to generate less heat internally.

Exposure to toxins and dysfunction of the thyroid, adrenal, or pituitary glands may also be underlying causes. Heat exhaustion occurs if the body is dehydrated and is unable to regulate its internal temperature. Without treatment, it can develop into heatstroke,.

But should we be so dismissive of low temperatures? Read about the health benefits of being…. In addition, the use of alcohol or recreational drugs can affect your judgment about the need to get inside or wear warm clothes in cold-weather conditions.

If a person is intoxicated and passes out in cold weather, he or she is likely to develop hypothermia. As winter drags on and temperatures drop way down, your risk of cold-related injury like frostbite can go way up. Sanj Kakar Mayo Clinic Orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon says frostbite is more common than many people think.

Kakar explains. If the windchill drops below negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit, not unheard of in the northern half of the U. Kakar says. It can be white. Or it can be blue. And you can get these blisters on your hands.

And it can be a very serious injury. People who develop hypothermia because of exposure to cold weather or cold water are also vulnerable to other cold-related injuries, including:. Before you or your children step out into cold air, remember the advice that follows with the simple acronym COLD — cover, overexertion, layers, dry:. Whenever you're traveling during bad weather, be sure someone knows where you're headed and at what time you're expected to arrive. That way, if you get into trouble on your way, emergency responders will know where to look for your car.

It's also a good idea to keep emergency supplies in your car in case you get stranded. Supplies may include several blankets, matches, candles, a clean can where you can melt snow into drinking water, a first-aid kit, dry or canned food, a can opener, tow rope, booster cables, compass, and a bag of sand or kitty litter to spread for traction if you're stuck in the snow.

If possible, travel with a cellphone.