Symptoms and treatment of Hypothermia

Description

Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when the body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). It is a medical emergency. Hypothermia (hi-poe-THUR-me-uh), the body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Regulate the body's temperature is about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).

When the body temperature drops, your heart, nervous system and other organs can't work as well as they usually do. Left untreated, hypothermia can cause the heart and the respiratory system to fail, and may eventually lead to death.

The common causes of hypothermia include exposure to cold weather or immersion in cold water. Treatment of hypothermia includes methods to heat the body to regulate temperature.

Symptoms

When the temperature begins to drop, the body may start to tremble. The shivering is the body's attempt to warm up. It is an automatic system of defense against the cold temperature.

The symptoms of hypothermia include:

The chills.
Slurred speech or mumbling.
Slow, shallow breathing.
Weak pulse.
Clumsiness or lack of coordination.
Drowsiness or very low energy.
Confusion or memory loss.
The loss of consciousness.
In babies, in bright red, cold skin.

People with hypothermia usually are not aware of their condition. The symptoms often begin gradually. Also, the confused thinking associated with hypothermia prevents self-awareness. The confused thinking can also lead to risky behaviors.

When to see a doctor

Call 911 or the local emergency number if you suspect someone has hypothermia.

While waiting for emergency help to arrive, gently move the person inside, if possible. Shake the movements can cause dangerous irregular heartbeats. Carefully remove the wet clothing and replace with warm water, dry layers, or blankets.

Causes

Hypothermia occurs when the 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 the body can lead to hypothermia if a person is not dressed properly or can't control the conditions.

Specific conditions that lead to hypothermia include:

Wear clothes that are not warm enough for the weather conditions.
Stay out in the cold too long.
Be unable to get out of the wet clothes, or to move to a place warm and dry.
Falling into the water, as in a boating accident.
To live in a home that is too cold, whether the poor of the heating or the excess of air conditioning.

The shape of your body loses heat

The mechanisms of heat loss from the body include:

It radiated heat. The majority of heat loss is due to the heat radiated from unprotected surfaces of the body.
The direct contact. Direct contact with something very cold, body heat. Examples include contact with cold water or on the cold ground. Because the water is very good in the transfer of heat from the body, the body's heat is lost much faster in cold water than in the cold air. In the same way, the loss of body heat is much faster if the clothes are wet, such as being caught in the rain.
The wind. The wind removes heat from the body by carrying away the thin layer of warm air on the surface of the skin. A cold wind is the important factor in the cause of the loss of heat.

Risk factors

Risk factors for hypothermia include:

The exhaustion. Fatigue reduces a person's ability to tolerate the cold.
Advanced age. The body's ability to regulate the temperature and the sensation of cold can decrease with age. And some older adults may not be able to tell someone when they are cold or to move to a warm place, if it feels cold.
Very young age. Children lose heat faster than adults. Kids also can ignore the cold, because they are having too much fun to think about. They may not have the judgment to dress properly in cold weather or to get out of the cold when they should.
Mental illness. People with a mental illness, dementia or other disorders that can interfere with the trial may not dress appropriately for the weather, or understand the risk of cold weather. People with dementia may wander around the house, or lost easily, with more likely to be stranded in a cold or wet weather.
Use of Alcohol and drugs.Alcohol can make the body feel warm on the inside, but it makes the blood vessels expand. As a result, the surface of the skin loses heat more quickly. Alcohol also decreases the body's natural shaking response. In addition, the use of alcohol or recreational drugs can affect your judgment about the need to get on the inside or wear warm clothes in cold weather conditions. A person who is drunk and passes out in a cold weather is likely to develop hypothermia.
Certain medical conditions. Some of the disorders that affect the body's ability to regulate the temperature of the body. Examples include hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid, poor nutrition, or anorexia nervosa, diabetes, stroke, severe arthritis; Parkinson's disease; trauma; and injuries of the spinal cord.
Drugs. Some medicines may change the body's ability to regulate its temperature. Some examples include certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, analgesics, narcotics, and sedatives.

Use of Alcohol and drugs. Alcohol can make the body feel warm on the inside, but it makes the blood vessels expand. As a result, the surface of the skin loses heat more quickly. Alcohol also decreases the body's natural shaking response.

In addition, the use of alcohol or recreational drugs can affect your judgment about the need to get on the inside or wear warm clothes in cold weather conditions. A person who is drunk and passes out in a cold weather is likely to develop hypothermia.

Complications

People who develop hypothermia due to cold exposure or cold water are also vulnerable to other cold-related injuries, including:

Freezing, which is when the skin and underlying tissues become frozen.
Gangrene, which is when the tissue of the body disintegrates and dies due to which the blood flow is blocked.

Prevention

Stay warm in cold weather

To stay warm in the cold weather, remember the acronym of COLD — cover, overexertion, layers, dry:

Of the cover. Wear a hat or other protective covering to prevent body heat from escaping from your head, face and neck. Cover hands with gloves in place of gloves.
Overexertion. Avoid activities that cause a lot of sweat. The combination of the wet clothes and the cold weather can cause the body to lose heat more rapidly.
The layers. Wear loosefitting, layered, lightweight clothing. Clothing made of tightly woven, water repellent material is best for protection against the wind. Of wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers hold body heat better than cotton.
Dry. Stay as dry as possible. Get out of wet clothing as soon as possible. Take special care to keep hands and feet dry, as it is easy of snow to get to the gloves and boots.

Keep children safe in the cold

To help prevent hypothermia when the kids are out in the winter:

Dress babies and young children in one more layer than an adult wear in the same conditions.
Take the kids on the inside if it starts to tremble — that is the first sign of hypothermia is starting.
The boys and girls inside often to warm up when they are playing outside.
Do not leave babies to sleep in a cold room.

Winter car safety

When traveling during bad weather, make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you are expected to arrive. That way, if you have any problem on the road, emergency services know where to look for your car.

It is also a good idea to keep emergency supplies in your car in case of being caught. Supplies can include multiple blankets, matches, candles, a clean you can where you can melt the snow in drinking water, a first aid kit, dry or canned food, a can opener, tow rope, booster cables, a compass, and a bag of sand or cat litter to the spread of traction if the car is stuck in the snow. If possible, travel with a cell phone.

If you're stuck, put everything you need in the car with you, you will pile up and stay covered. Run the car for 10 minutes every hour for it to warm up. Make sure that the window is slightly open and the exhaust pipe is not covered with the snow while the engine is running.

Alcohol

To avoid the consumption of alcohol-related risks of hypothermia, not to drink alcohol:

If you are going to be out in the cold.
If you're surfing.
Before you go to bed on cold nights.

Cold water safety

The water does not have to be extremely cold because of hypothermia. The cold water than usual body temperature causes heat loss. The following tips can increase your survival time in cold water if you accidentally fall into:

Wear a life jacket. If you plan to travel in a jet of water, wear a life jacket. A life jacket can help you stay alive longer in cold water, so that allows you to float without the use of energy and by providing some insulation. Keep a whistle attached to your life jacket to signal for help.
Get out of the water if possible. Get out of the water as much as possible, such as going up to a capsized boat or grabbing onto a floating object.
Do not attempt to swim unless you are close to safety. Less than a boat, another person, or a life vest, which stay. The swimming of the uses of energy and may shorten the survival time.
Position of the body to minimize heat loss. The use of a position of the body, known as the heat escape lessening posture (HELP) to reduce the loss of heat while you wait for help. Keep your knees to your chest to protect the trunk of the body. If your life jacket from the forces of the face-down in the water when it is in this position, straighten your legs and bring close together, keeping the arms by the sides, and tilt your head back.
Meeting with others. If you have fallen in cold water with other people, keep warm in front of the other in a tight circle.
Do not remove clothing. While you're in the water, do not remove clothing, as it helps to isolate it from the water. Buckle, button and zipper of clothes. Cover your head, if possible. Remove clothing only after you're safely out of the water and you can take steps to get dry and warm.

Help to the most people at risk

Extension programs in community and social support services can be of great help to the most people at risk of hypothermia. This includes babies, older adults, persons who have mental or physical health conditions, and people who are homeless. If you are at risk or know someone at risk, please contact your local public health office for available services, such as the following:

Help with the payment of heating bills.
Check-in services to see if you and your home are warm enough during the cold months.
Shelters for homeless people.
The community centers of heating, a safe and warm day, the places where you can go during the cold weather.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of hypothermia is usually clear, based on the symptoms a person has. The conditions in which the person with hypothermia became ill or was found also often make a clear diagnosis. Blood tests can help confirm hypothermia and its severity.

A diagnosis may not be clear, however, if the symptoms are mild. For example, hypothermia may not be considered when an elderly person is on the inside has symptoms of confusion, lack of coordination and speech problems.

Treatment

Seek medical attention immediately for any person that seems to have hypothermia. Until medical help is available, follow these first aid guidelines for hypothermia.

First aid-tips

Be soft. When you help a person with hypothermia, handle with care. Only move the person as much as necessary. Do not massage or rub the person. Vigorous or jarring movements can trigger a cardiac arrest.
Move the person out of the cold. Move the person to a warm, dry place, if possible. If the movement is not possible, protect the person from the cold and the wind as much as possible. The person must be kept in a flat position, if possible.
Remove wet clothes. If the person is wearing wet clothing, remove it. Cut clothing if necessary to avoid excess movement.
Cover the person with blankets. The use of layers of dry blankets or coats to warm the person. Cover the person's head, leaving only the face exposed.
Isolate the body of the person from the cold ground. If you're out, lay the person flat on a blanket or other hot surface.
Monitor breathing. A person with severe hypothermia may appear unconscious, without clear signs of a pulse or breathing. If the person has stopped breathing or is dangerously low or shallow, begin CPR immediately if you are trained.
Supply of hot drinks. If affected person is conscious and can swallow, give the person a warm, sweet, non-alcoholic beverages or caffeine from the drink. Hot drinks can help to warm the body.
Use warm, dry compresses.The use of first aid hot packs, which are plastic, fluid-filled bags that hot when it is squeezed. Other options include a makeshift compress of warm water in a plastic bottle or a dryer-warmed towel.
Do not apply direct heat. Do not use hot water, a heating pad or lamp heating to warm the person. The extreme heat can damage the skin. It can also cause irregular heartbeats that cause the heart to stop.

Use warm, dry compresses. The use of first aid hot packs, which are plastic, fluid-filled bags that hot when it is squeezed. Other options include a makeshift compress of warm water in a plastic bottle or a dryer-warmed towel.

Apply the compresses only to the neck, chest wall, or in the groin. Do not apply to the arms or legs. The heat applied to the arms and legs forces cold blood back toward the heart, the lungs and the brain, causing the body's core temperature to drop. This can be fatal.

Medical treatment

Depending on the severity of the hypothermia, emergency medical care for hypothermia may include one of the following interventions to raise the temperature of the body:

Passive rewarming. For mild hypothermia, covering the person with warm blankets and offering them a hot drink fluids may be sufficient.
The blood overheating. Blood may be drawn, hot and recirculated in the body. A common method of warming of the blood is the use of a hemodialysis machine, which is usually used to filter the blood in people with poor kidney function. Heart Bypass machines may also need to be used.
Warm intravenous fluids. A heated saltwater solution can be put into a vein to help warm the blood.
Airway rewarming. The use of humidified oxygen through a mask or nasal cannula, you can warm up the airways and helping to raise the temperature of the body.
The irrigation. A warm salt water solution can be used to heat certain areas of the body, such as the area around the lungs or abdominal cavity. The warm liquid is supplied to the affected area through small tubes called catheters.