This winter is extremely cold. Meteorological forecasts report severe frost, while temperatures could drop below -20 °C. Such low temperatures are a big burden for the body, especially when we have gotten used to snow and sub-zero temperatures in recent winters. It is not only a risk of hypothermia, which threatens life, but also other sudden health conditions that can surprise.
“Even temperatures around -15 or -20 °C can be dangerous,” explains doctor Joanna Szeląg. She recalls that a few years ago, when she was still in elementary school and temperatures below -15 °C did not surprise anyone, the teacher told her a famous line about not sitting outside in the winter and not being afraid to ask for help. At that time, nobody thought much about snow drifts, and children often walked to school even in extreme cold without their parents driving them. Therefore, this advice was especially remembered by children.
Today, although we live in a mild climate, we have gotten used to snow and frost in recent winters. However, the end of December and the beginning of January brought a significant cooling with temperatures down to -20 °C, so we must not forget that hypothermia can be very dangerous. Is there a universal temperature threshold that would clearly define extreme cold and its effects on health? No, although doctors emphasize that the worst are sudden temperature fluctuations and a person’s general state of health. Some diseases can worsen the negative effects of cold.
Joanna Szeląg, a specialist in family medicine, says: “Temperatures around -15 or -20 °C can be dangerous. The most important thing is to prepare properly.” What do temperatures below -20 °C mean for unprepared people? “There is no universal time after which frostbite appears – it depends on the state of health, blood circulation and chronic diseases,” the doctor explains. Some people react more quickly to cold, such as those with Raynaud’s syndrome, which causes rapid frostbite in the hands and feet.
Frostbite occurs when the skin and subcutaneous tissues freeze. The risk depends not only on the air temperature, but also on the feeling temperature, which is also affected by the wind. Skin protection, suitable clothing, protective creams, quality gloves and shoes will help. Frostbite can appear within 30 minutes if the skin is exposed to a temperature below -17°C with a wind speed of 8 km/h. The first symptoms are pale or bluish-gray skin, loss of sensitivity, joint and muscle dysfunction, and after warming may discover blisters. A quick reaction is essential, otherwise there is a risk of complications such as hypersensitivity to cold, long-term numbness, joint stiffness, gangrene or hypothermia.
Hypothermia is a condition when the body temperature drops below 35 °C, which leads to serious disorders of the body. “Hypothermia is not just hypothermia, but a gradual shutdown of body functions. In deep hypothermia, all processes slow down, including thinking,” the doctor explains. Therefore, people often do not feel the danger in freezing weather and want to sit down, which can end tragically. With a drop in body temperature, the body saves energy by shaking muscles, but with a further drop, these mechanisms stop working. Modern medicine distinguishes three degrees of hypothermia: mild, moderate and deep, each of which has different biological manifestations and risks.
Personal experience shows that even the warmest gloves are not always enough – my hands freeze and I lose feeling in my fingers after a short walk. The reason is that the body protects the most important organs in the cold. “With hypothermia, sensitivity and blood flow in small vessels decrease, which leads to frostbite. The hands, feet, nose and ears are most at risk,” emphasizes Szeląg. The defense consists in the narrowing of the blood vessels on the limbs, which limits the supply of heat to the hands and feet. The further from the heart, the less blood and heat. That is why the cold first manifests itself on the outer parts of the body. Frostbite most often appears on the hands and face.
Seniors, young children and chronically ill people should be especially careful. “In such cold weather, time spent outside is important. The worst thing is when someone sits for a long time without moving,” warns the doctor. Sudden transitions from a warm environment to extreme cold can cause discomfort in the respiratory tract. Changes in temperature stress the lungs the most. According to an expert from Ohio, lung irritation occurs when very cold air comes into contact with the moist surface of the lungs, where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. He compares the process to when a cup of warm water is exposed to frost and quickly freezes.
Frequent alternation of very warm and cold environments increases the risk of winter health problems. Overheated rooms in combination with outside cold increase the risk of irritation and damage to the respiratory tract. Experts recommend limiting time outside in severe frosts and protecting the respiratory tract, especially in windy weather. It should be remembered that the felt temperature can be significantly lower than the measured one, which increases the risk of unpleasant symptoms.
Temperature below -20 °C is not a problem if we are properly dressed. “You need to protect your face with cream, wear warm clothes, good gloves and shoes,” reminds Joanna Szeląg. Bozena Janicka, chairwoman of the Health Care Employers’ Association, has a similar opinion: “Special attention must be paid to the protection of the head, neck, hands and feet – it is through these parts of the body that the most heat escapes. A hat, scarf and gloves are not an accessory, but a necessity. Footwear should not only be warm, but also non-slip, which significantly reduces the risk of falls.”
Clothing must not be too tight, as it restricts proper blood circulation, which helps keep the hands and feet warm. Don’t forget about the headgear, which is particularly susceptible to hypothermia. In severe frosts, one must be alert and monitor not only one’s own reaction to the cold, but also that of others. “Let’s pay attention to the elderly, the homeless and those who sit outside for a long time. Let’s not be indifferent, let’s inform the emergency services,” urges the doctor. Alcohol in the cold poses another risk. “It doesn’t warm us up, quite the opposite – under its influence, we lose our vigilance more easily,” he warns.
If we plan a longer walk, we need to prepare. “In addition to warm clothes, we’ll take a thermos of tea and hand warmers – little things like that can make a big difference.” adds. Special caution is recommended for children. “There is no time to sit on a sled, it is better when they run or build a snowman. Idleness in the cold is the worst,” he warns.
This article comes from the Ringier publishing partner website. The content and data contained in it were taken without editorial intervention.
