Why Winter Hypothermia Is Worse Than Viruses. Extreme hypothermia can lead to death. Hypothermia occurs when body temperature drops below the required minimum of 36.6 ° C. A slight hypothermia can lead to a cold, but a decrease in body temperature to 20-23 ° C is fatal.

Doctors told about hypothermia, writes TSN.

What are the symptoms of hypothermia and what to do if there are signs of hypothermia?

Hypothermia occurs when body temperature drops below the required minimum of 36.6 ° C. A slight hypothermia can lead to a cold, but a decrease in body temperature to 20-23 ° C is fatal.

What are the symptoms of hypothermia and what to do if there are signs of hypothermia?

The main, earliest symptom of hypothermia is chills - muscle tremors, the purpose of which is to maintain normal body temperature through movement..

I stage of hypothermia In the first stage of hypothermia, when the body temperature reaches 32-35 ° C, the person is conscious, but feels a strong chill. The body, feeling that it is losing the level of temperature necessary for the proper functioning of all organs, tries to raise it, forcing the muscles to move. Chills are the first signal that you need to look for a place to warm up.. The first stage of hypothermia is not so terrible, to eliminate it, it is enough to spend several hours in a warm room, drink hot tea or warm water.

It is strictly forbidden to warm up with alcoholic beverages! Alcohol dilates blood vessels and promotes greater heat loss..

II stage of hypothermia In the second stage of hypothermia, body temperature varies from 32 to 29 ° C. It is characterized by the absence of chills, but at the same time there is a violation of speech, consciousness and coordination of movements, cyanosis of the skin appears. With this degree of frostbite, dizziness and weakness often appear, the person needs medical attention. As a rule, special blankets and baths with warm water are used..

III stage of hypothermia In the third stage, the body temperature is less than 28 ° C, a coma sets in, the pulse is barely perceptible, symptoms of respiratory and circulatory arrest are noted, the pupils do not react to light. Resuscitation is required at this stage.

In the fourth stage of hypothermia, when the temperature drops below, cardiac arrest occurs.. Fifth stage - irreversible hypothermia, t. death.

Factors that increase the risk of hypothermia:.

Old age. In older people, thermoregulation is impaired, and comorbidities, such as dementia, disrupt orientation and appreciation of the world around them..

babies. Infants lack effective mechanisms for regulating heat transfer.

Mental disorders. People with an inadequate assessment of the world around them, with memory problems, can be exposed to a long stay in the cold, not realizing how dangerous it is..

Alcohol or drug abuse. Exposure to the body with psychotropic substances can predispose to hypothermia - there are frequent cases when a person in a state of alcoholic or drug intoxication “turned off” on the street in sub-zero temperatures.

Accompanying illnesses. Some metabolic and hormonal disorders may be the cause of insufficient thermoregulation, for example, hypothyroidism, anorexia, diabetes, Parkinson's disease.

Why hypothermia is dangerous: It slows down all physiological functions, including the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, nerve conduction, mental acuity, neuromuscular reaction time, and metabolic rate..

First aid for hypothermia Assistance for frostbite requires compliance with certain rules, which are to minimize the movements of the injured person. The fact is that excessive movement of the body can cause a sudden activity of chilled blood from the limbs to the heart.. In hypothermia, the body maintains blood temperature by maintaining circulation to the heart, lungs, and brain; the shift of cold blood from the extremities to the heart can lead to a complete stop of it.

The victim should be moved to a warm place, protected from the wind, where gradual, slow warming is possible..

In case of mild symptoms of hypothermia, when the victim is fully conscious, he should be removed from his wet / cold clothes and wrapped in a blanket or overlaid with warm heating pads in the back, abdomen, neck. If the victim is conscious, you can give sweet warm drinks that do not contain alcohol.

Unconscious people should not be given any drinks during hypothermia, should not be transported in an upright position, should not take off their clothes, and should call an ambulance as soon as possible.

Hypothermia in a state of deep hypothermia is often difficult to distinguish from death.. The person or medical staff providing first aid should carefully assess the presence of a pulse.. Starting resuscitation too early in this case can lead to heart rhythm disturbance, cause ventricular fibrillation and worsen the patient's condition..

In deep hypothermia, when cardiac arrest has occurred, the myocardial tissue is cooled, so defibrillation is not recommended if the core body temperature is below 29? The data available in the literature indicate a favorable effect of prolonged resuscitation with gradual warming of the victim and an attempt to defibrillate the patient only after warming him up to 30?

How to prevent hypothermia?

The most banal recommendation is to exclude movement in the open air at extremely low temperatures.. The second tip is to dress for the weather and choose clothes specially designed for winter cold days.. You can also purchase special thermal underwear and pocket heating pads..

Do not forget that not only people, but also animals are subject to hypothermia, so for cats, minus 15 is a deadly temperature.. Do not pass by a freezing animal, give it a chance to survive.

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