Hypothermia is a potentially dangerous drop in body temperature, usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold. Normal body temperature is considered to average 37 degrees. Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature drops below 35 degrees. The symptoms and signs caused by this condition vary depending on the low body temperature. In its treatment, some methods are used to raise body temperature to normal levels and warm the body.
If the body temperature drops, the heart, nervous system and other organs cannot function normally. It is a condition that needs to be treated and if left untreated, it can lead to complete failure of the heart and respiratory system and death.
What Causes Hypothermia?
Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it produces it. The most common causes are prolonged exposure to cold weather or cold water. Failure to dress appropriately for an environment that is much colder than body temperature and prolonged exposure or inability to control the effect of conditions can also lead to this condition. In addition to these, special conditions that can cause this condition can be listed as follows:
- Wearing clothes that are not warm enough for the weather conditions
- Staying in the cold for a long time
- Do not remove wet clothes or move to a warm, dry place
- Living in a very cold environment due to insufficient heating or prolonged use of air conditioning
What are the Symptoms of Hypothermia?
The first thing that is usually noticed among thesymptoms of hypothermia is shivering. Shivering is the body's automatic defense against the cold and an attempt to warm itself. In addition, the different symptoms that may occur are as follows:
- Loss of consciousness
- Weak pulse
- Breathing slowly and very little,
- Slurred speech or mumbling
- Clumsiness or coordination problems
- Lethargy or very low energy
- Confusion or memory loss
As signs and symptoms progress slowly, people are often unaware of their condition. People who are not aware of their condition due to confusion may engage in risky behaviors. It is important for people who suspect this condition to seek emergency medical help immediately.
What are the Risk Factors for Hypothermia?
There are many different factors that increase the risk of hypothermia. People who are physically tired and fatigued have a reduced tolerance to cold. The body's ability to regulate temperature and perceive cold may decline with age, while some older adults may not be able to communicate or go to a warm place when they are cold.
In children, heat loss occurs faster than in adults and children can often ignore the cold. In addition, young children may not think about dressing properly in cold weather or getting out of the cold when necessary.
Alcohol consumption is also a risk factor. Although alcohol makes people feel warm, it also causes blood vessels to dilate and heat loss to occur more rapidly.
People with mental illness, dementia or other conditions that impair judgment may not dress appropriately for the weather or understand the risk of cold weather. People with dementia in particular may wander away from home or get lost easily. This makes them more likely to be stranded outside in cold or wet weather.
Some medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, malnutrition or anorexia nervosa, diabetes, stroke, Parkinson's disease, trauma and spinal cord injuries affect a person's ability to regulate body temperature. In addition, certain medications can also alter the ability to regulate body temperature. These include certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, narcotic painkillers and sedatives.
What are the treatment methods for hypothermia?
First of all, it is necessary to be gentle when helping these people. Only the necessary movements should be made, massage or different movements should be avoided. The person should be removed from the cold and moved to a warm and dry place. If it is not possible to move them away, they should be protected against the cold and wind with a dry blanket and kept in a horizontal position.
If the person has wet clothes, they should be removed and cut if necessary to avoid excessive movement. In severe cases, unconsciousness may occur without a clear pulse or breathing. In cases where breathing stops or is severely reduced, artificial respiration can be performed by trained personnel.
If the affected person is awake and swallowing is not a problem, they may be given a warm drink to help raise their body temperature. Hot water and other means of heating can be used to warm the person. However, excessive heat can damage the skin or cause the heart to stop functioning.
Hypothermia is treated by applying a number of medical treatment methods depending on the severity of the cases and the condition of the disease. In mild cases, the person may be given a heated blanket and warm fluids.
For severe cases, blood renewal can be applied among the procedures to be performed. In addition, a heated saline solution can be given intravenously to warm the blood. To warm certain parts of the body, such as the pleura around the lungs or the abdominal cavity, a warm saline solution can be administered through catheters to the affected parts. To increase body temperature, humidified oxygen can be given through a mask or nasal tube to warm the airways and help raise body temperature.
Diagnosis and Complications of Hypothermia
The diagnosis of hypothermia is usually based on the person's physical symptoms and the conditions they are in. A number of blood tests can be performed to diagnose the condition and determine its severity. However, the symptoms and signs must first be recognized before a diagnosis can be made.
People who develop hypothermia as a result of exposure to cold air or cold water develop a number of complications. These complications include freezing of body tissues (frostbite) and gangrene, tissue decay and death due to the interruption of blood flow.
