Prolonged exposure to a cold environment can potentially lead to hypothermia because of excessive heat loss. Infants and seniors are particularly susceptible to hypothermia, as their bodies don't regulate body temperature as well as those in other age groups. Serious hypothermia is more likely to occur in extreme conditions — such as if your car breaks down in a blizzard — than if you spend a few hours bundled up at a football game on a cold day.
If you plan to spend time outside in cool or cold weather, dress in warm clothing and avoid drinking alcohol , as it dilates your superficial blood vessels and increases loss of body heat. A variety of hormonal disorders can lead to a low body temperature. Your thyroid , pituitary gland and adrenal glands make important hormones that regulate many bodily functions, including maintenance of your body temperature.
Reduced production of hormones from any of these glands can potentially lead to a lower-than-normal body temperature. In fact, a low body temperature sometimes serves as an important clue to a hormonal problem. Hypothermia also poses a risk for people with diabetes mellitus.
Complications of diabetes — including low blood sugar hypoglycemia or an insulin reaction and metabolic derangements due to a very high blood sugar level diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome — often cause a drop in body temperature along with other signs and symptoms.
An area of your brain called the hypothalamus serves as the primary site of body temperature regulation. It sends messages to the rest of your body that result in either overall heat conservation or loss. Nervous system disorders can disrupt this temperature regulation, leading to a low body temperature.
Examples of these disorders include:. Most people think a fever and infection go hand in hand — and they usually do. But a serious infection like bacterial pneumonia or meningitis sometimes triggers a low body temperature, especially among infants and aging seniors.
Shivering is likely the first thing you'll notice as the temperature starts to drop because it's your body's automatic defense against cold temperature — an attempt to warm itself. Someone with hypothermia usually isn't aware of his or her condition because the symptoms often begin gradually. Also, the confused thinking associated with hypothermia prevents self-awareness. The confused thinking can also lead to risk-taking behavior. While you wait for emergency help to arrive, gently move the person inside if possible.
Jarring movements can trigger dangerous irregular heartbeats. Carefully remove his or her wet clothing, replacing it with warm, dry coats or blankets. Hypothermia occurs when your 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 your body can lead to hypothermia if you aren't dressed appropriately or can't control the conditions. Alcohol and drug use. Alcohol may make your body feel warm inside, but it causes your blood vessels to expand, resulting in more rapid heat loss from the surface of your skin.
The body's natural shivering response is diminished in people who've been drinking alcohol. In addition, the use of alcohol or recreational drugs can affect your judgment about the need to get inside or wear warm clothes in cold-weather conditions. If a person is intoxicated and passes out in cold weather, he or she is likely to develop hypothermia. As winter drags on and temperatures drop way down, your risk of cold-related injury like frostbite can go way up.
Sanj Kakar Mayo Clinic Orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon says frostbite is more common than many people think. Kakar explains. If the windchill drops below negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit, not unheard of in the northern half of the U. Kakar says. It can be white. Or it can be blue. And you can get these blisters on your hands.
And it can be a very serious injury. Taking certain medications could lower your temperature. These include beta-blockers and some antipsychotics. Your temperature may be low if you have been outside in cold weather. Wear warm enough clothes and keep your head covered in cold weather. Avoid getting wet in cold weather. You can describe your symptoms over the phone.
They may offer a diagnosis or ask you to make an office visit. You need immediate medical treatment if your temperature is dropping because of hypothermia or sepsis. Seek care if your temperature is declining and you have:. Infants with a low body temperature should be seen by a doctor right away. Other symptoms of hypothermia in infants include red or discolored and cold skin, sleepiness, and disinterest in feeding. You may have a serious illness like hypothermia or sepsis that requires immediate attention.
Or you may have another underlying factor contributing to the lower temperature like advanced age, medication use, or hypothyroidism.
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Major complications can result from this drop in temperature…. Learn 15 ways for how to increase your body temperature, including physical and mental activities, diet, and more. It will typically go away on its own. Learn more about the ways you can treat a stuffy nose, or nasal congestion, at home, including tips on decongestants, humidifiers, and steam remedies.
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