{"id":1209,"date":"2022-01-07T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2022-01-07T14:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/?p=1209"},"modified":"2022-01-07T09:00:34","modified_gmt":"2022-01-07T14:00:34","slug":"signs-and-symptoms-of-hypothermia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/signs-and-symptoms-of-hypothermia\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs and Symptoms of Hypothermia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Minnesota winters are blissful, idyllic scenes of hoarfrost and poofy white snowdrifts\u2014at least until you step out the door. Then weather becomes a vicious monster looking to gnaw off your fingers, toes, and any other bits of exposed skin.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no secret that our winters are tough, and with 62 cold-related deaths<\/a> in Minnesota in 2019, it\u2019s especially important to go into the season knowing how to identify and treat cold-related conditions<\/a>, like hypothermia.<\/p>\n

What is Hypothermia? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a common misconception that you need to get wet to enter a hypothermic state, but that\u2019s not always the case. Hypothermia occurs when your core body temperature, which typically rests at 98 degrees, falls below 95 degrees. While being doused in water will greatly assist in lowering your body\u2019s temperature, it\u2019s not necessary for developing hypothermia, especially with extreme temperatures or prolonged exposure at play.<\/p>\n

Preventing Hypothermia<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hypothermia\u2019s name stems from its effect on the body\u2019s hypothalamus, a part of the autonomic nervous system that controls body temperature. When cold, the hypothalamus will warm the body, but in a hypothermic state, the body is unable to adequately warm itself.<\/p>\n

This is usually due to prolonged exposure to cold weather, but anyone who\u2019s faced the full brunt of a Minnesota winter knows even a short period in sub-arctic temperatures can cause hypothermia and frostbite<\/a>. The cold weather\u2019s effects are exacerbated when your skin is exposed, since nearly all heat loss is through the skin, which is why it\u2019s so important to ensure you\u2019re properly layered<\/a> when going outside.<\/p>\n

During hypothermia, the body\u2019s organs begin to shut down, and vasoconstriction begins. Vasoconstriction is the constriction of blood vessels, which limits the flow of blood to the extremities. It\u2019s also one of the reasons fingers and toes take longer to warm, as well as why they\u2019re more susceptible to frostbite. Movement increases blood flow, so it\u2019s often smart to wear thick clothing that still permits movement. Limiting your time outdoors can help prevent hypothermia, but there is no better defense than caution and knowledge of the symptoms.<\/p>\n

Hypothermia Symptoms<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Shivering, one of your hypothalamus\u2019 natural responses to cold, is a good sign that your body\u2019s temperature regulation system is working. However, when shivering stops without your body\u2019s temperature normalizing, it is often a sign of hypothermia progressing. Other signs of hypothermia include:<\/p>\n