What is Hypothermia? Symptoms and Treatment of Hypothermia

Hypothermia is characterized by a drop in body temperature below 35°C and is a condition that requires emergency medical intervention. The severity of hypothermia can vary. As the severity increases, the risk of death and coma also rises, while the body develops responses to protect itself in the early stages. Therefore, proper first aid methods should be applied until medical intervention can be provided. During the first aid phase, the person should be moved away from cold, windy, and wet conditions to a warm and dry area. In the first aid and medical intervention processes for hypothermia, there are two important goals: to prevent further heat loss in the patient and to increase body temperature.

What is Hypothermia?

Hypothermia is a medical emergency characterized by the body's loss of heat at a rate faster than it can produce heat, resulting in a dangerously low body temperature. Environmental factors and certain diseases can increase heat loss from the body. The body can lose heat through conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation.

• Conduction: Heat transfer occurs when the body comes into contact with an object at a lower temperature, leading to a decrease in body temperature.
• Convection: Cold air and liquid that come into contact with the skin cause a drop in body temperature.
• Radiation: Electromagnetic waves radiate heat into the environment. The exposed heads of children are a significant source of heat loss.
• Evaporation: Liquid on the skin turns into vapor, causing heat loss. Moist skin loses heat more quickly.

What Are the Symptoms of Hypothermia?

The first symptom that appears when body temperature begins to drop is shivering. Hypothermia symptoms are categorized into three levels: mild, moderate, and severe. Mild hypothermia symptoms encompass the body's reactions aimed at preventing hypothermia. However, severe hypothermia is associated with exhaustion in the body, increasing the risk of life-threatening conditions as the body cannot protect itself.

Mild Hypothermia
When body temperature is between 35°C and 32°C, the following symptoms of mild hypothermia may occur:

• Shivering
• Fatigue
• Slowing of movements
• Loss of concentration and problems with speech
• Pale skin
• Frequent urination
• Drowsiness
• Tachycardia
• Tachypnea

Moderate Hypothermia
When body temperature is between 32°C and 28°C, the following symptoms of moderate hypothermia may be observed:

• Decreased mental function
• Slowing of heart rate and breathing
• Decreased shivering
• Increased muscle stiffness
• Skin turning blue
• Hypotension
• Weakening of reflexes
• Loss of consciousness
• Hallucinations

Severe Hypothermia
When body temperature drops below 28°C, the following symptoms of severe hypothermia may be seen:

• Hypotension
• Fluid accumulation in the lungs
• Complete muscle rigidity
• Death
• Oliguria
• Coma
• Cardiac arrest
• Cessation of shivering

What Causes Hypothermia?

The likelihood of hypothermia increases with exposure to cold, wet, and windy conditions. When the body is exposed to cold weather, it initially expends energy to produce endogenous heat. If this condition persists, the body's energy stores become depleted, leading to a decrease in body temperature. If the body does not reheat itself, the severity of hypothermia increases. The following factors can trigger this mechanism:

• Not wearing appropriate clothing for weather conditions can lead to hypothermia.
• Aging can result in a loss of nerve endings in the skin, impairing the ability to detect changes in temperature. Additionally, their metabolism may slow down due to decreased activity levels.
• Diseases that reduce movement, such as paralysis, increase the risk of developing hypothermia.
• Spending long periods outdoors in cold weather lowers body temperature.
• Wet clothing and exposure to cold conditions can cause hypothermia.
• Living in a poorly heated home can lower body temperature below normal levels.
• Spending prolonged periods in water leads to significant heat loss.

At What Temperature Does Hypothermia Occur?

How is Hypothermia Diagnosed?

How is Hypothermia Treated?

The treatment method involves preventing further heat loss and initiating rewarming processes. Some medical methods applied in the treatment of hypothermia include:

• Covering the person with a blanket and providing warm drinks for passive heating. To apply this method, the patient must have a good thermogenesis mechanism, a functioning endocrine system, and sufficient energy stores to produce endogenous heat. This method gradually increases the body's temperature.
• The method used in hemodialysis machines, typically employed for dialysis patients, circulates the blood and returns it to the body. This warms the blood and quickly raises body temperature.
• Administering warm intravenous fluids to the patient can increase body temperature. This method supports rapid recovery from hypothermia.
• Providing warm oxygen through a mask or breathing tube raises body temperature via the airway, preventing heat loss through respiration.
• Warm saline solutions can be administered through a catheter around the lungs or in the abdominal cavity to heat the body.

Hypothermia Treatment in Infants

Due to having less muscle mass compared to adults, infants can experience a more rapid loss of body temperature. For this reason, infants are at high risk for hypothermia. In infants, symptoms of hypothermia development include bright red, cold skin, and excessive slowing of movements. When these symptoms occur, the following initial measures should be taken:

• Infants should be dressed in slightly thicker clothing compared to adults to protect them from hypothermia during winter.
• If there are signs of hypothermia, the infant should be moved to a warmer environment.
• A blanket should be placed over the infant to help warm them.
• If the infant's hypothermia does not improve, medical treatment should be sought as soon as possible. The medical treatment for hypothermia in infants includes:
• Using radiant heaters powered by natural gas to raise body temperature.
• Holding the infant in a warm bed or a warm room to help them warm up.
• Encouraging skin-to-skin contact with the mother.
• During these procedures, the infant's temperature should be checked frequently. Additionally, the temperature of the equipment and the room should be monitored. The infant should continue to be fed during this time.

First Aid Methods for Hypothermia

Until medical treatment is provided, first aid is administered to the individual. At this stage, the first aid method applied must be correct and not cause harm to the person. The first aid guidelines are as follows:

• Be gentle with the individual experiencing hypothermia. Avoid jarring movements. Do not massage the person.
• Provide warm drinks to the person. If the individual is vomiting, stop giving fluids.
• If the individual is in a cold place, carefully move them away to a warm and dry area. If the person cannot be moved, they should be protected from the cold and wind.
• If the person's clothing is wet, it should be removed.
• If the person is in contact with a cold surface, reduce their contact with the cold surface as much as possible.
• Apply warm and dry compresses to the neck, chest wall, and groin using a hot water bottle, warm towel, or a plastic bottle filled with warm water.
• Warm and dry compresses should never be applied to the arms and legs, as this can lead to fatal outcomes.
• A direct heat source should not be applied to the body. Equipment such as hot water and heating pads should not be used.
• If you notice mild symptoms of hypothermia, be sure to take necessary precautions. If improvement is not achieved, consult a doctor. If someone around you is experiencing hypothermia, apply the correct first aid methods until emergency medical intervention is available.