Hypothermia

Introduction to hypothermia Due to long-term exposure to any temperature, when the body dissipates heat more than heat, it can cause hypothermia. Hypothermia is most common in the cold season or in water. However, if metabolic or active heat production (trembling) does not maintain core body temperature, it can occur in summer or warm seasons. Hypothermia can also occur after severe trauma. Immobility, wearing wet clothes, cold winds and lying on cold surfaces can increase the risk of hypothermia. Decreased core body temperature can lead to apathy, sleepiness, clumsiness, insanity, irritability, illusion, slowing or stopping breathing, slowing heartbeat, irregularity, and finally stopping, but as long as the patient is not warm, the patient should not be considered dead, rectum Temperature <34 °C helps to distinguish from similar symptoms caused by heart disease, diabetes coma, insulin overdose, cerebrovascular accident or drug abuse. A common clinical thermometer cannot measure very low body temperature when hypothermia is low. For special hypothermia meters, if there is only a standard clinical thermometer, the mercury column cannot rise above 34 °C, indicating that the body temperature is too low. basic knowledge The proportion of illness: 0.001% Susceptible people: no specific population Mode of infection: non-infectious Complications: sudden death

Cause of hypothermia

Cold season (30%):

Long-term exposure to any temperature, the body heat dissipation is greater than the heat production, can cause hypothermia, hypothermia is most common in the cold season or immersed in water, but if metabolic or active heat (trembling) can not maintain core body temperature It can also occur in the summer or in the warm season.

Female hormone secretion disorders (30%):

The low temperature of women is due to the imbalance of hormone secretion in women, which causes abnormal vasoconstriction and diminished blood circulation. When the blood circulation is not normal, the body begins to chill.

Serious trauma (30%):

After severe trauma, hypothermia can occur, and it can be fixed, wet clothes, cold wind and lying on cold surfaces, which can increase the risk of hypothermia.

Hypothermia prevention

1, pay attention to keep warm

Wear winter clothes, high temperature insulation value, easy to carry, not only windproof, but also waterproof, is an ideal cold-proof appliance.

2, cold from the foot

The material of the shoes should be well ventilated, such as canvas, leather, etc., wearing rubber and plastic shoes, the feet are prone to frostbite after sweating, hard and tight shoes hinder the blood circulation of the feet, and are also prone to frostbite. When the toes have a numbness (a warning of frostbite), it can be used as a stepping exercise to promote blood circulation.

3, regular activity massage

To minimize the exposed parts of the skin, it is necessary to frequently move or massage the parts that are prone to frostbite to avoid contact with fast-heating items, such as metal contact with bare hands or snow and buttocks, which can accelerate the loss of heat and cause local frostbite.

When the body temperature is too low, the body is difficult to self-heat again, so it must be heated from outside the body. For example, rapid heating in vitro will promote the cold blood flowing into the human body, further aggravating the condition, and the hot body can be placed in the following parts: lower back, stomach Department, armpit, posterior neck, wrist, ankle, these parts of the blood flow close to the body surface, can carry heat into the body.

4. Replenish energy in time

When the human body maintains body temperature in a cold environment, it will inevitably increase its metabolism and increase its physical exertion. Only by increasing the intake of nutrients can it meet the needs of the human body. Therefore, high-calorie protein and fat foods should be increased than usual. Alcohol and water cannot be produced. When you are hot or cold, never drink alcohol. Although drinking can temporarily cause the body to feel fever, in fact, alcohol causes the blood vessels to swell, which increases the body's heat dissipation, leading to physical weakness. Experts advise: Never drink alcohol to keep out the cold.

Hypothermia Complications

1. Brain aging: The body temperature regulation function is reduced, and the command to resist the cold cannot be issued in time.

2. Digestive system aging: Appetite is worse, the amount of rice is reduced, digestion and absorption are poor, resulting in a decrease in the body's metabolic heat production, it is difficult to meet the body's demand for heat.

3. Skin aging: the perception of outside air temperature and cold and heat changes is reduced, subcutaneous vascular sclerosis makes the contractile force worse, and excessive heat is released, resulting in lower body temperature, especially when the body temperature is lower than 35 °C, the patient's consciousness is blurred, thinking reaction Slow, uncoordinated movements, slow breathing heartbeat, if you do not take measures such as warming and warming in time, it is easy to cause sudden cardiac arrest and sudden death.

4. Some elderly people take drugs for certain diseases, such as hibernation, methyldopa, diazepam, etc., can inhibit the thalamic body temperature regulation center, make the surrounding blood vessels dilate, visceral blood vessels contract, interfere with the metabolic heat production of sugar, It can also weaken the responsiveness of the elderly to cold and adapt to changes in the environment and climate, thus reducing body temperature.

Symptoms of hypothermia Common symptoms Hypothermia Diabetes sleepiness coma

Hypothermia can lead to acceleration of all physiological functions, including cardiovascular and respiratory systems, nerve conduction, mental acuity, neuromuscular reaction time and metabolic rate, and low temperature caused by soaking the whole body in near-icing water in young children. Too low to protect the brain during hypoxia.

Decreased core body temperature can lead to apathy, sleepiness, clumsiness, insanity, irritability, illusion, slowing or stopping breathing, slowing heartbeat, irregularity, and finally stopping, but as long as the patient is not warm, the patient should not be considered dead, rectum Temperature <34 °C helps to distinguish from similar symptoms caused by heart disease, diabetes coma, insulin overdose, cerebrovascular accident or drug abuse. A common clinical thermometer cannot measure very low body temperature when hypothermia is low. For special hypothermia meters, if there is only a standard clinical thermometer, the mercury column cannot rise above 34 °C, indicating that the body temperature is too low.

Hypothermia check

1, thermometer check: the degree of hypothermia (to the oral temperature as an example) mild: 32 ~ 35 ° C, moderate: 30 ~ 32 ° C, severe: 30 ° C pupil dilated, light reflection disappeared lethality: 23 ~25 ° C. Ordinary clinical thermometers can not measure very low body temperature when hypothermia is too low. A special hypothermometer must be used. If there is only a standard clinical thermometer, the mercury column cannot rise above 34 °C, indicating that the body temperature is too low.

2, clinical manifestations: its main clinical manifestations are pale skin cold, lip lobe purple, mild tremor, slow heartbeat breathing, lower blood pressure, decreased urine output, disturbance of consciousness, late coma may occur.

Diagnosis of hypothermia

1, rectal temperature <34 ° C helps to distinguish from similar symptoms caused by heart disease, diabetes coma, insulin overdose, cerebrovascular accident or drug abuse.

2, hypothermia can lead to the acceleration of all physiological functions, including cardiovascular and respiratory systems, nerve conduction, mental acuity, neuromuscular reaction time and metabolic rate. Therefore, it needs to be differentiated from primary cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease.

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