Subcooling the body

Subcooling of the body occurs when the body temperature is much lower than the normal 36.6 degrees. Science calls this phenomenon hypothermia. It comes as a result of prolonged exposure to too low temperatures and can easily lead to death.

Causes of hypothermia

You can earn hypothermia for many different reasons:

1. Very quickly it happens in the cold air. But the worst thing to get under the influence of cold temperatures under water. In such conditions, the body gives heat almost thirty times faster.
2. You can overcool and if you drink too much cold or worse - ice - liquid.
3. In shock or a state of alcoholic intoxication, the overall hypothermia of the body comes much faster.
4. Sometimes hypothermia develops during the transfusion of large amounts of blood too low a temperature.

This phenomenon is very dangerous. It literally paralyzes the body, disrupting the work of all systems and organs.

Signs and degrees of hypothermia

Hypothermia refers to such phenomena that it is impossible to notice without even a very great desire. All the symptoms manifest themselves fairly quickly and are felt distinctly.

Depending on the degree of hypothermia, its signs also change:

1. The most "harmless" easy degree . At the same time, the body temperature does not fall below 32-34 degrees. The patient begins chills, the skin of the body and lips becomes cyanotic-pale. Goosebumps appears. The arterial pressure remains normal. A person can move without someone's help.
2. The average degree is characterized by a drop in temperature to 29-32 degrees. The main symptom of hypothermia is the slowing of the heart rate. The skin becomes noticeably cold. Blood pressure is slightly reduced. Breathing becomes superficial, the patient feels weak and very sleepy, which can not be done categorically. At many patients at this stage the reaction to external stimuli disappears.
3. The most dangerous is the severe degree of hypothermia of the body. The temperature drops below 31 degrees. The heart beats not more often than 35 beats per minute. Breathing slows to 3-4 sighs per minute. The skin becomes blue, and the face, lips, limbs swell. Oxygen starvation of the brain is observed. Often there are cramps.

What should I do if I chill?

First aid for hypothermia should be very literate. Immediately it is necessary to stop the effect of cold: to transfer the patient to heat, to remove the wet frozen clothing from it. The patient in consciousness can give warm milk, tea, water or mors, but not coffee or alcoholic beverages.

When slowing down breathing and pulse, before an ambulance arrives, an indirect heart massage should be done. Even if the mild degree of hypothermia managed to cope on their own, the patient should be shown to a specialist.

Danger of hypothermia of the body and its prevention

As a rule, the effect of low temperatures leaves behind certain consequences. It can be:

• ARI;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• organic disorders in the brain;
• frostbite of individual parts of the body or limbs.

The main means of preventing hypothermia of the body are as follows:

1. In cold weather, it is desirable to wear several layers of clothing. So the heat lasts longer.
2. Even adults in severe frost need to wear a warm scarf, hat and mittens.
3. Before going out to the street, the bare skin should be lubricated with a special moisturizing winter cream.