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Date: January 18, 2024
As winter storms and freezing temperatures sweep across various parts of the U.S., concerns about staying warm have become paramount. Widespread wind chill warnings and advisories in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, and South highlight the importance of winter safety practices, particularly the need to maintain a regulated body temperature.
Dr. David Holmes, MD, the associate program director in the Department of Family Medicine at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, emphasizes that understanding thermoregulation—how the body maintains temperature—is crucial during decreased temperatures. Several elements, including the skin, sweat glands, circulatory system, and the hypothalamus, play key roles in this process.
Elements of Thermoregulation:
- Skin: Protects internal organs from the environment.
- Sweat Glands: Produce water that evaporates, creating a cooling effect on the body when it gets too hot.
- Circulatory System: Blood vessels adapt to outside temperature to best protect internal blood flow.
- Hypothalamus: The part of the brain acting as a central control, determining the body’s ideal temperature based on external information.
While everyone undergoes thermoregulation, certain factors can influence how individuals perceive and react to cold temperatures. Factors such as age, medical conditions (hypothyroidism, diabetes), medications, and body fat percentage contribute to variations in cold sensitivity.
Dr. Zaffer Qasim, an associate professor of clinical emergency medicine at Penn Medicine, notes that the elderly and young individuals may have more difficulty controlling body temperatures, while certain medications and medical conditions can increase the risk of feeling cold. Individuals with a low body fat percentage may be more susceptible to the cold due to reduced insulation.
Temperature sensitivity also varies based on metabolic rate and psychological responses. Dr. Tracy Zaslow, a sports medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, explains that physiological and psychological factors influence how people feel and interpret cold temperatures.
Understanding the difference between feeling cold and temperature regulation is crucial. Failure to maintain a normal body temperature in cold weather can lead to serious conditions like hypothermia, characterized by symptoms such as shivering, confusion, fatigue, decreased coordination, and slurred speech.
Tips for Managing Sensitivity to Cold:
- Dress for the weather: Layer clothes, wear wicking and water-resistant materials, warm socks, and a hat for added insulation.
- Monitor indoor temperature: Keep at least one room above 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Regular exercise: Boost overall health, generate body heat, and kickstart metabolism.
- Consume warm beverages: Help warm the body’s interior.
- Eat something: Digesting food generates a degree of internal heat.
- Warm shower or bath: Provides temporary relief by increasing body temperature.
Individuals struggling to stay warm despite these measures are advised to consult with a healthcare professional, as an underlying medical issue may require attention. Understanding personal factors contributing to cold sensitivity empowers individuals to adopt effective strategies for staying warm during winter months.
