What is Hypothermia

Hypothermia can be defined as “drop of core body temperature in an individual to below 35 degree Centigrade (or 95 degree Fahrenheit)”. The normal body temperature of an individual is 37 degree Centigrade or 98.4 degree Fahrenheit. Fall of body temperature below normal is not always considered or defined as hypothermia. For diagnosis of hypothermia, the body temperature should be below 35 degree Centigrade or 95 degree Fahrenheit. If body temperature is below normal (i.e. 37 degree Centigrade) but above 35 degree Centigrade, it is not hypothermia, but subnormal body temperature.

Once an individual’s core body temperature fall to hypothermic level (below 35 degree Centigrade) many physiological mechanisms which are present in normal human beings to conserve or preserve heat begins to fail and fall in body temperature increases further. When we feel cold we shiver, and shivering is a mechanism of heat conservation by our body physiology. When a person suffers from hypothermia, there may be no shivering in him, unlike a person who feels cold.

Hypothermia can be two types:developing

Primary accidental hypothermia and

Secondary hypothermia

Primary accidental hypothermia: This occurs in a previously healthy individual who get exposed to extreme cold. For example, occupational exposure to cold by soldiers (military history is full of tragedies due to cold injury including hypothermia, especially during World War-I and World War-II), sailors, fishermen fishing in cold climate, oil rig explorers in the arctic region, or by individuals who have hobbies in cold areas such as hunters, climbers, skiers etc. The exposure to cold may be due to sudden change in weather or lack of preparedness. If anybody works in extreme cold areas, he/she should be well prepared to face sudden weather change from normal to extreme cold to prevent cold injuries such as hypothermia.

Secondary hypothermia: is due to complication of a serious systemic disorder and mortality is much higher due to secondary hypothermia. Systemic disorders that may lead to hypothermia complication include, severe anemia, malnutrition, hypothyroidism, dementia and other psychiatric illness. Elderly individuals and neonates (age of 4 weeks or less is called a neonate) are more susceptible to develop hypothermia.

There is a saying: “prevention is better than cure”. In case of hypothermia also this is true. It is more important to prevent hypothermia, than treating it and curing it after it occurs.

Prevention of hypothermia depends on individuals. It is important to educate individuals who are at risk to develop hypothermia. Individuals at risk to develop hypothermia are elderly individuals, individuals with various serious systemic illnesses that may lead to development of hypothermia, persons involved in hobbies that lead to exposure to extreme cold (such as skiers, mountain climbers, hunters in cold areas), occupations involving exposure to extreme cold (such as fishing in arctic or Antarctic regions, oil rig explorers, persons going for expedition to North Pole or South Pole, individuals involved in research in or around North Pole or South Pole), individuals with various systemic illnesses that may lead to hypothermia etc.

Follow the following measures and prevent hypothermia:

Adequate clothing: wear adequate and appropriate clothing while going outdoor or while working outdoor in cold areas. It is important to wear clothing with multiple layers. Cloths with multiple layers have air in between layer, which act as insulator, as air is a bad conductor of heat and keep body warm and prevent heat loss. All body parts (especially head, ears etc.) should be covered with multilayer clothing.

Proper shelter: it is important to have proper shelter while not working outdoor to prevent risk of hypothermia.

Adequate calorie intake: proper nutritious food intake is essential for prevention of hypothermia. Cold weather requires more calorie intake to keep thermogenesis going at normal rate to maintain the lost heat. Without adequate calorie intake, a person may have higher risk of hypothermia.

Avoid alcohol: there is common misbelieve, that alcohol intake (especially brandy), can prevent hypothermia. Ethyl alcohol cause peripheral vasodilatation (which is responsible for warmth felt after taking alcohol) and increase blood circulation in peripheral areas such as skin, but this increases heat loss and increase risk of hypothermia. Hence, alcohol should be avoided in cold climate areas to prevent hypothermia.

Individuals suffering from various systemic illnesses, which increase risk of hypothermia should be careful and take medical advice to prevent hypothermia.

When you feel cold, take some warm liquid and remain warm.

Conclusion:

Hypothermia is when your body’s temperature falls below the normal temperature of 98.6°F (37°C). Hypothermia can happen to anyone, but it is most common among older adults and young children. It is also more likely to occur in cold weather and when you’re wet, so it’s important to take special precautions during these times.