Hypothermia is a medical condition that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it produces it. A person is said to be hypothermic if their core body temperature reaches below 95 F (an average, healthy temperature is 98.6 F).

Hypothermia can be caused by several things, including:

• Prolonged exposure to cold weather or cold water.
• Spending time in wet clothes (particularly if the air outside is cold too).
• Living in a home with poor heating.

Hypothermia is much more than just being cold. People experiencing hypothermia may not feel cold at all because they’re beginning to go numb. Typically, someone experiencing hypothermia will:

• Be shaking or shivering
• Be slurring their speech
• Have a weak pulse
• Feel drowsy
• Have very low energy
• Become unconscious

For our bodies to work properly, they need heat. When your core temperature drops, your organs will slowly begin shutting down, often starting with your heart and nervous system.

Those most at risk for hypothermia are:

• Children. Children tend to lose heat faster than adults and are more likely to ignore a symptom if they’re outside having fun.

• People who drink alcohol excessively. A common misconception is that alcohol makes you warmer. In reality, it makes you better able to ignore the cold that you’re feeling, which isn’t the same thing as actually being warm.

• People with a mental disorder. People with a mental disorder, such as dementia, may have more trouble judging when it’s too cold to be outside.

• People taking certain medications. Some medications can affect your body’s ability to regulate its temperature, causing people to think they’re warmer than they are.

Find out more about the wellness and prevention care services offered at our Urgent Care Centers by calling for our Bloomfield location or Plymouth location. We serve patients from Plymouth MI, Bloomfield Hills MI, Livonia MI, Novi MI, Worden MI, Canton MI, Southfield MI, Troy MI, Farmington Hills MI and BEYOND.