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Have you ever watched the Titanic movie? If so, do you remember a scene where the male character played by Leonardo Di Caprio died after chilling in a cold sea? In the real events of the sinking of this ship, many of the victims died from the cold. This is because they have to swim in the sea where the temperature reaches minus 2 degrees Celsius, this condition is called hypothermia. How does hypothermia occur?
Hypothermia also strikes a lot of Himalayan mountaineers. This is usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures in the body. Then, do we who live in tropical countries have the potential to be exposed to hypothermia? How can this hypothermia occur? Check out this article.
What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia is a medical emergency in which the body is unable to restore body heat due to temperature dropping too quickly. These conditions make your body temperature reach very low temperatures below 35 ° C. When your body temperature drops too low, your heart, nervous system, and other organs can't work optimally. If not helped immediately, hypothermia can cause complete failure of the function of the heart and respiratory system and eventually lead to death.
The cause of hypothermia is weather or very cold water. However, too long in the environment or in any room cooler than your body temperature is also a cause. This is especially so if you are not wearing clothes that warm your body, or when you can't regulate the temperature in the room.
How can hypothermia occur?
Our temperature or body temperature is controlled in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is responsible for recognizing changes in body temperature and responding accordingly. The body produces heat from metabolic processes in the cells that support vital body functions.
If the environment or the room is getting cold, the body will automatically need heat. The hypothalamus will recognize these temperature changes. Usually the body will respond with shivering movements, this is the body's protective response to generate heat through muscle activity.
Normally the activity of the heart and liver produces heat for the body. As long as the body is in a cold environment or room. This organ will be reduced in producing heat for the body. This causes the protection to keep body and brain heat from decreasing or even stopping. Low body temperature can slow down brain activity, breathing, and heart rate. This is what causes hypothermia to be categorized as a dangerous medical condition if it is not treated immediately.
What conditions allow us to experience hypothermia?
If you don't have plans for the Himalayas, that doesn't mean you are unlikely to experience hypothermia. Hypothermia does not only affect people who only live in countries that have 4 seasons. But there is a possibility we could experience this too. The following conditions can cause hypothermia.
- Wearing clothes that don't warm the body, especially in cold weather conditions.
- Too long outside the house even though the weather is very cold or it is raining heavily.
- In cold or wet conditions do not immediately move to a warm place or change clothes.
- The indoor temperature is not warm enough, especially for parents and babies.
- The air conditioner was set too cold.
