Cold season, beware of hypothermia

The cold winter can cause some diseases for humans, including hypothermia. Normally, the body has mechanisms to adapt to changes in the surrounding temperature. However, for some reason, the body temperature drops, causing some risks. Therefore, when the weather is cold, it is necessary to prevent hypothermia to avoid harm to health.



In cold weather, you need to wear warm clothes to prevent hypothermia.

Causes

There are many risks that lead to hypothermia such as: not having enough heat in the house; not eating enough nutrients; drinking too much alcohol; having chronic heart, liver, or thyroid diseases; having an infectious disease; the effects of certain medications; being in the cold for too long; not wearing enough warm clothes; having just had an accident or falling into the water; being lonely or poor...

Symptoms and risks

Hypothermia can occur within a few hours, depending on the amount of heat lost. When the body is hypothermic, the patient shows signs of fatigue, lethargy, mental confusion, slurred speech, cold body, shivering, pale fingers and toes, difficulty moving, stiff muscles, and cold body.

If hypothermia is severe, the heart rate and breathing will initially be fast and then slow down. Hypothermia affects the brain, the victim will have difficulty in responding to dangerous situations and may fall into a coma... which can lead to death. Therefore, hypothermia requires immediate emergency treatment at the nearest medical facility to avoid dangerous complications that may occur. While waiting, place the victim in a warm, wind-proof place; warm the chest, neck, head and groin with a regular blanket or an electric blanket. Be careful not to raise the victim's legs because doing so will cause more blood to flow to the upper body, making the legs even colder.

Hypothermia room

In winter, control the house by sealing the gaps that cause heat loss and cold air to enter. Close windows and vents. Always keep the temperature in the house warm enough. If there is no heating equipment, wear warm clothes such as sweaters. Wear many layers of clothes, not too tight to allow blood circulation and ventilation. Air is a very good insulator.

When going out in the cold, you should wear warm enough clothes: the inner layer should be a moisture-absorbing fabric like silk, the middle layer should be a woolen shirt that retains heat in the body; the outer layer should both retain heat and block wind and water. In addition, you should wear a hat, woolen gloves, and a mask (covering your nose and mouth to prevent heat loss through breathing). If your clothes or body get wet, you should dry them and change your clothes immediately. Wet clothes cause a lot of heat loss from the body.

You need to eat nutritious food. In winter, you need more food to have more heat energy. Drink warm water, in cold season as well as hot season, your body still needs enough water.

In addition, avoid drinking too much alcohol because alcohol reduces body temperature. Many times, when drinking too much alcohol, the body only heats up for a while at first, then the body temperature drops, making the person feel cold.

According to Science and Life - NT