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How it develops
Hypothermia is caused when the body loses heat faster than it can be replaced. Normally, the body conserves its heat by narrowing blood vessels in the skin, reducing the flow of warm blood near the surface in favor of heating vital organs in the body “core.” This process is our main defense against cold.
When skin blood flow is reduced, the skin becomes cool or cold. The resulting discomfort prompts us to put on more clothing or seek warmer surroundings. When warm clothing is used as an artificial barrier against the cold, the body is not forced to use its natural defense mechanism of reducing skin blood flow. Clothing is the key to comfort and survival in a cold environment.
However, many older indivduals have a diminished skin sensation. They are often unaware they are even cold. If left alone, they can develop hypothermia in the course of a few days.
Symptoms
It is difficult to recognize hypothermia. Some symptons are the same as those of other illnesses, including diabetic coma, stroke or heart disL ease. Other symptoms are conditions not unusual in elderly people; for example, confusion, disorientation or reduced mental clarity. These become progressively worse as the body temperature falls, and the victim may not be able to reliably relate, or even be aware of, what is happening.
Other signs to look for are:
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