Hypothermia – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Friday, April 20, 2018 by Michelle Simmons

Hypothermia is a condition that develops when the body temperature falls below 95°F. The main cause of hypothermia is cold weather. When the body experiences extremely cold temperatures, it loses heat faster than it can produce it. In addition, staying in cold water can also cause hypothermia as well. Exposure to colder-than-normal temperatures can also lead to hypothermia, such as going into an extremely cold, air-conditioned room right after being outside. This can cause the body to lose too much body heat in a short amount of time.

Known side effects of hypothermia

According to the National Health Service (NHS) in the U.K., a person with hypothermia may experience the following side effects: shivering, cold and pale skin, slurred speech, rapid breathing, tiredness, and confusion. Hypothermia can also affect the person’s ability to think clearly as well as result in death.

Hypothermia can also cause other complications, such as cardiovascular problems, which include cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, and intravascular thrombosis; respiratory problems, which include pneumonia and pulmonary edema; digestive problems, which include pancreatitis, peritonitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and acute tubular necrosis; metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, and gangrene. The cold weather, which causes hypothermia, can weaken the immune system, trigger asthma attacks, and cause sinus issues and migraines.

Body systems harmed by hypothermia

The body systems harmed by hypothermia include the nervous, immune, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, and digestive systems.

List of foods or nutrients that prevent hypothermia

There is no information on what foods or nutrients exactly prevent hypothermia. However, there are some foods that can help keep the body warm. These include the following:

Apples
Avocado
Black bean soup
Brussels sprouts
Chili
Coconut oil
Ginger
Ginger tea
Green tea
Hot chocolate
Oatmeal
Pumpkin soup
Squash
Sweet potatoes
Salnuts

In addition, the herbs that can help keep the body warm include cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.

Treatments, management plans for hypothermia

When a person has hypothermia, it is important to get emergency help as soon as possible. While waiting, regularly check the patient’s level of consciousness, breathing, and pulse. One of the things to do when handling someone with hypothermia is to warm up the person gradually by moving to a warmer room, removing any wet clothes, and wrapping the patient in several layers of blankets to trap heat. Give the patient warm drink and a high-energy food, such as chocolate, for fast energy. If the patient, who is a healthy adult or older child, is fully conscious and there is no risk of him being cold again, you can warm him by bathing them.

Medical treatment for hypothermia may also include blood rewarming, warm intravenous fluids, airway rewarming, and irrigation, depending on its severity.

Where to learn more

Summary

Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when the body temperature falls below 95°F.

Hypothermia causes shivering, cold and pale skin, slurred speech, rapid breathing, tiredness, confusion, and even death.

Hypothermia can result in other complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, intravascular thrombosis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, pancreatitis, peritonitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, acute tubular necrosis,metabolic acidosis, and hyperkalemia,

Hypothermia harms the nervous, immune, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, and digestive systems.

Hypothermia can be treated through passive rewarming, blood rewarming, warm intravenous fluids, airway rewarming, and irrigation, depending on its severity.

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