Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis The diagnosis of hypothermia is usually apparent based on a person's physical signs and the conditions in which the person with hypothermia became ill or was found. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter.
Show references Cold weather safety for older adults. National Institute on Aging. Hypothermia results when a person's internal body temperature drops below normal due to cold exposure. While hypothermia typically occurs outdoors, it can also occur indoors because there are many things that can make a person lose body heat.
Hypothermia starts with mild symptoms but can progress and potentially become life-threatening. A person experiencing a late stage of severe hypothermia may go into a coma or suffer cardiac arrest. First Aid Guide In the case of mild hypothermia, complete the below self-care measures and get medical care as soon as possible.
In the case of severe hypothermia, call emergency medical services immediately. First aid for hypothermia: Check the person's airway, breathing, and circulation. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone.
Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. A well-prepared first aid kit is an important tool in treating minor injuries that commonly occur at home and…. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Drowning occurs when you get water in your lungs, and is the fifth leading cause of unintentional death in….
Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Knee Bracing: What Works? Teenagers: How to Stay Healthy. Home Diseases and Conditions Hypothermia. Table of Contents. What is hypothermia? However, hypothermia is more serious and requires urgent medical care.
Symptoms of hypothermia Symptoms are difficult to spot in babies and older people. What causes hypothermia? Acute hypothermia This occurs when your body temperature drops suddenly. Chronic hypothermia This occurs when your body temperature drops over a period of time.
Exhaustion hypothermia This occurs when your body temperature drops because it is too tired to produce heat. Perioperative hypothermia This occurs when your body temperature drops after surgery in a hospital. How is hypothermia diagnosed? Additional tests include: Temperature test: The doctor or nurse will test the ear or rectum bottom.
This provides the most accurate reading. Electrocardiography EKG : This test uses electric waves to look at your heartbeat. Chest X-ray: This test uses radiation to look your chest and surrounding organs. Your doctor is looking for disease or injuries. Blood test: This test checks for substances in your blood. Computed tomography scan CT scan : This test uses X-rays to check for internal injuries or other health problems. Can hypothermia be prevented or avoided?
The CDC suggest making alternative arrangements if it is not possible to maintain a warm space where an infant can sleep. Anyone who becomes stranded in a motor vehicle should move everything they need from the trunk into the vehicle.
They should run the car for 10 minutes every hour, making sure that snow is not covering the exhaust pipe and keeping the window open a crack to prevent a buildup of fumes. People should also consider creating a winter survival kit to keep in the car.
The kit should contain nonperishable food, blankets, a first aid kit, water, and necessary medications. Overexertion will not help, as this can lead to exhaustion and result in sweat-drenched clothing, both of which contribute to heat loss. A person who begins to experience or show signs of mild hypothermia should retreat to a warmer place immediately to prevent progression to a life-threatening condition. Hypothermia can happen in summer too. Excessively cool air-conditioning or water-based activities pose a risk, especially for infants and older people who may not be able to express how they are feeling.
An oral thermometer may not show a temperature this low. In either case, it is vital to seek urgent medical attention. Hypothermia can result from a chronically cold environment, such as during winter, or it can happen suddenly, for example, if a person falls into cold water.
The CDC stress that temperatures do not have to be excessively cold for hypothermia to develop. People lose heat more quickly in water than on land. Water temperatures that would be comfortable as outdoor air temperatures can lead to hypothermia.
Indoors, a lack of heating, excessive air conditioning or taking an ice bath can result in hypothermia. Indoor hypothermia often has a poor outcome, because it tends to affect older people, and the diagnosis often comes at a late stage. Results of a study published in showed that 75 percent of people who received medical treatment in New York City hospitals for cold-related illness were outdoors when this happened.
Around half were sleeping rough, and another 25 percent had no heating at home. Substance abuse or having a mental or physical health condition increased the risk. Other causes of hypothermia include metabolic disorders that result in a lower basal metabolic rate. These disorders cause the body to generate less heat internally.
Exposure to toxins and dysfunction of the thyroid, adrenal, or pituitary glands may also be underlying causes. Heat exhaustion occurs if the body is dehydrated and is unable to regulate its internal temperature.
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