Why hypothermia is dangerous

This lowered body temperature affects the brain, and a person's ability to think clearly or move well. Severe hypothermia can also cause an irregular heartbeat leading to heart failure and death. Elderly people, who often have other illnesses, such as hypothyroidism, heart disease, or circulation problems, or take medicines that interfere with the body's ability to regulate its temperature. Elderly people with inadequate food, clothing, or heat; often these people sit alone for hours or days at a time in a cold apartment or home; improper nutrition also makes them more susceptible to the cold.

Half of the elderly people who develop hypothermia die before, or soon after, being found. However, even young, seemingly strong people, are affected by hypothermia when exposed to the cold for long periods of time. To determine if the person is suffering from hypothermia, take his or her temperature with a thermometer.

If the person has symptoms of hypothermia and a temperature cannot be taken, call 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.

But there are many factors other than a cold environment that put you at greater risk for hypothermia. Hypothermia can happen indoors in as little as 10 or 15 minutes if the temperature settings are cold enough.

Not having any heat in your home in the winter can be very dangerous. So is keeping your heat turned down too low. Both can lead to hypothermia. Waters says. Hypothermia is a medical emergency. If recognized early and treated appropriately there are typically no long-term effects. Otherwise, serious consequences are very possible. Thousands of people die each year in the United States from hypothermia — and many of those deaths are preventable. Someone with hypothermia usually isn't aware of his or her condition because the symptoms often begin gradually.

Also, the confused thinking associated with hypothermia prevents self-awareness. The confused thinking can also lead to risk-taking behavior. While you wait for emergency help to arrive, gently move the person inside if possible. Jarring movements can trigger dangerous irregular heartbeats. Carefully remove his or her wet clothing, replacing it with warm, dry coats or blankets. Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it produces it.

The most common causes of hypothermia are exposure to cold-weather conditions or cold water. But prolonged exposure to any environment colder than your body can lead to hypothermia if you aren't dressed appropriately or can't control the conditions. Alcohol and drug use. Alcohol may make your body feel warm inside, but it causes your blood vessels to expand, resulting in more rapid heat loss from the surface of your skin. The body's natural shivering response is diminished in people who've been drinking alcohol.

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:.