Hypothermia is the loss of a lot of body heat, so that the temperature drops significantly. This is dangerous and requires immediate treatment. What causes hypothermia and how to treat it?
Temperature drops significantly disrupt the function of important organs. If not treated quickly, hypothermia is at risk of causing complications, such as cardiac arrest, and even death. What causes hypothermia and how to treat it? Here’s the full explanation.
Table of Contents
Symptoms of Hypothermia
A low temperature is characterized by shivering to keep warm. In addition, there are a number of signs of hypothermia that you need to watch out for, such as:
- mumble.
- Shiver.
- Slow breathing.
- Lost consciousness.
- The pulse is weak.
- Disturbed coordination.
- Drastic decrease in energy.
- Sleepy.
- Memory drop.
- Confusion.
- Reddish skin.
- Cold skin.
Hypothermia is usually not characterized by significant features and appears gradually, so that the sufferer is often not aware of it. In addition, a lack of understanding about hypothermia risks exacerbating symptoms and even causing complications.
Causes of Hypothermia
There are various factors that trigger hypothermia. Here are some of them:
- Not protected by adequate clothing in cold weather.
- Spending time in cold weather.
- Being in the water for a long time, for example in an accident at sea.
- Cannot move to a dry, warm location.
In addition, the loss of a lot of body heat is triggered by several factors, namely:
- Live exposure
Direct exposure to cold weather can dissipate heat quickly, putting you at risk of hypothermia. In addition, hypothermia is triggered by wet clothing, for example when someone is exposed to rain without adequate protection.
- Cold wind
Hypothermia is also provoked by cold winds. Cold winds risk reducing the warm temperature on the skin, so that the heat is reduced drastically.
- Disease
There are a number of diseases that affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature. For example, hypothyroidism, anorexia nervosa, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, diabetes, trauma and severe arthritis.
Treatment of Hypothermia
To return the temperature to normal, the following initial treatment for hypothermia can be applied:
1. Monitor breathing
Ensuring the patient’s breath is the initial treatment for hypothermic sufferers. If breathing and pulse stop, apply immediately cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and seek medical assistance.
2. Avoid excessive movement
Handle sufferers with care and stay away from cold temperatures. Avoid sudden and excessive movements, because it can trigger cardiac arrest.
3. Take off wet clothes
The next aid is to make sure the sufferer does not wear wet clothes. If you wear wet clothes, remove them by cutting them. After that, cover the patient, except for the nose and mouth. If you don’t have a blanket, use your body heat to warm it up. If the patient is conscious, give warm drinks or food, such as soup, so that the temperature rises.
4. Warm compresses
Compress the patient with a warm cloth or a warm water bottle on the neck, chest or groin. Avoid warm compresses on the feet, because it will circulate cold blood to the heart, brain and lungs, putting it at risk of cardiac arrest.
Hypothermia Medical Measures
Medical action is the right choice if the sufferer begins to lose consciousness. Here’s the procedure:
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if breathing stops suddenly.
- Installation of infusion in the stomach and chest to warm the patient’s body.
- The use of masks or warm bottles to warm the patient’s body.
- Warming blood with a hemodialysis machine for people with severe hypothermia.
