| Description | | | | Confusion or delirium |
| Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures causes | | | | Shivering |
| your body to lose more heat than it can | | | | Body swelling |
| generate, resulting in a condition called | | | | Unconsciousness or coma (in severe cases) |
| hypothermia. Symptoms of the condition do not | | | | Fixed pupils (in severe cases) |
| usually appear immediately; often signs of | | | | Very slow pulse (in severe cases) |
| hypothermia come on so gradually that the | | | | Conventional Medical Treatment |
| person suffering from it has no idea anything is | | | | Hypothermia is an emergency situation. If |
| wrong. Hypothermia may occur in any number of | | | | someone you know has the condition, get the |
| cold environmental situations, including being | | | | person out of the cold environment and remove |
| underdressed in the middle of winter, falling into | | | | any damp clothing. If you are unable to get the |
| cold water, and wearing damp clothing in a cool | | | | victim indoors, move him or her to an area that is |
| environment. | | | | sheltered from the wind, remove all damp |
| Hypothermia can strike anyone who is exposed | | | | clothing, and layer blankets, jackets, and any |
| to extremely cold temperatures over a prolonged | | | | other dry clothing over the victim to create |
| period of time. People who are at increased risk | | | | insulation. |
| include very thin people (who have little natural fat | | | | Next, call an ambulance. While waiting for the |
| insulation), elderly people, and infants. Alcoholics | | | | medical assistance to arrive, check the victim's |
| and people with hypothyroidism, diabetes, | | | | pulse and breathing. Once at the hospital, the |
| malnutrition, or heart disease also stand a greater | | | | victim's body temperature will be gradually |
| chance of developing hypothermia. | | | | increased with a combination of intravenous fluid |
| Signs and Symptoms | | | | and lukewarm water therapy. |
| Body temperature below 94°F | | | | Complementary and Alternative Treatments |
| Pale skin that is cold to the touch | | | | Nutrition and Supplementation |
| Lethargy | | | | Drink plenty of warm, quality beverages and take |
| Muscle stiffness | | | | a supplement with vitamin B complex (50 mg 3 |
| Loss of motor coordination | | | | times daily). |