With spring just around the corner, weather can become unpredictable. It is not uncommon to have extreme weather and rapid temperature changes as we transition from the winter season into the spring. During this time, it is important to understand how to be prepared for the weather when you plan on spending time outdoors.
Hypothermia is a condition that occurs due to your body temperature dropping dangerously low. It is very dangerous and can be lethal in extreme cases. Although hypothermia is more common in freezing temperatures, it can happen when you are unprepared for the weather in a moderate climate too. In this article, learn about the early signs of hyperthermia and how to prevent it. Visit AFC Urgent Care Bound Brook for same-day rapid urgent care services in Bound Brook, NJ.
How Common is Hypothermia?
Although you may only associate hypothermia with extreme cold, hypothermia can happen in more mild conditions as well. Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature drops below 95 F. The normal body temperature is 98.6 F. Hypothermia can occur in mild conditions if you are not prepared for cold weather. Exposure to water, including rain and even sweat can cause hypothermia to happen more quickly.
Hypothermia can occur even in temperatures that are above 40 F. This means that it is vital to bring extra layers and prepare accordingly for the weather when you plan on spending time outdoors during the winter. In the springtime, weather conditions can vary drastically between warm and sunny conditions and dangerously cold and wet conditions.
What Are the Early Signs of Hypothermia?
There are many warning signs that indicate the beginning stages of hypothermia. Understanding these warning signs can help keep yourself and others safe. If you experience mild hypothermia symptoms, you should immediately seek shelter somewhere warm and dry to help bring your body temperature back to normal.
Shivering and Cold Skin
As a defense mechanism against hypothermia, the body triggers thermogenesis in response to the cold. This can cause involuntary shivering. This is often one of the earliest signs of hypothermia and is often combined with frequent shaking and dry skin.
Slurred Speech and Confusion
Hypothermia can affect one's cognitive and speech capabilities. Slurred speech, disorientation, and an inability to comprehend one's immediate environment are common symptoms of this condition. Other symptoms are mood fluctuations, slow activity, and trouble completing total words. If someone is experiencing these symptoms, seeking medical evaluation and warming procedures as early as possible is the best solution.
Fatigue and Weakness
Simple tasks might be challenging for people with hypothermia. Hypothermia slows your metabolism, reducing energy and muscular activation. If you notice weakness and exhaustion, especially when the weather is cold, it's essential to take measures to prevent the problem from getting worse.
Loss of Coordination and Dexterity
Hypothermia alters neuron characteristics and muscle control, which makes patients clumsy and uncoordinated. Unpredictability and problems with motor abilities are among the initial indicators. Hypothermic people may have trouble performing even the most fundamental of tasks because their coordination is impaired.
Drowsiness and Loss of Consciousness
A patient with severe hypothermia may start to feel increasingly sleepy and weary until they lose consciousness. The body's vital organs slow down due to the lack of blood, which causes exhaustion and potential loss of consciousness.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Bound Brook for Rapid Urgent Care Services
If you plan on spending time outdoors this spring, it is important to be able to identify the early signs of hypothermia. If you are suffering from hypothermia symptoms, getting somewhere warm and dry is vital to raising your body temperature back to a safe range. At AFC Urgent Care Bound Brook, we provide rapid urgent care services for patients near Bound Brook, NJ. Simply walk into the clinic for rapid urgent care services without long wait times.
Our dedicated team of medical providers are board-certified and ready to help. We never require that you schedule an appointment, simply walk into the clinic. We accept most major medical insurance plans and offer affordable care options so that you can get the care that you need exactly when you need it. To learn more, contact the clinic directly by calling (732) 469-3627.
