With the onset of frigid temperatures in the Northeast and Midwest over the past week, it is important to remember to dress warmly–most importantly to dress in layers with wool sweaters and fleece, and to keep your head, ears, nose and face covered with a warm headgear and facemask combination. Body heat is easily lost through the head and scalp.
Wearing warm wool gloves or mittens is also essential. Wearing 2 pairs of wool socks is also recommended to reduce the chance of developing frostbite. Wool seems to provide excellent insulation against cold temperatures. Keeping your face shielded from the wind is also important as well to conserve body heat and prevent frostbite.
Frostbite occurs when the skin and body tissue just underneath it freezes. Frostbite typically affects smaller more exposed areas of the body, such as your nose, fingers, toes, ears, cheeks and chin. Frostnip which is the first stage of frostbite, can cause skin redness and irritation, but not permanent damage. Early tingling and numbness may develop, but is transient. You can treat mild cases with simple re-warming of the skin with warm water.
Severe frostbite however requires immediate medical attention, because it can cause permanent damage to skin underlying tissue, bones and muscle, and can lead to complications including infection, and nerve damage.
People at higher risk to develop frostbite include people taking medicines called beta blockers, those with peripheral vascular disease, those who smoke, or have diabetes or Raynaud’s phenomenon.
With windchills approaching the single digits and below zero, it is possible to develop frostnip with progression to frostbite in exposed areas in as little as 20-30 minutes, especially in those patients with peripheral vascular disease, a history of smoking or diabetes.
One myth is that alcohol helps to keep you warmer in the colder temperatures. Actually, alcohol in excess, can lead to a lowering of your core body temperature and place you at risk for hypothermia. Alcohol help to make your skin feel flushed an warm initially, by dilating small blood vessels in your skin. The dangerous part is that is takes blood away from your organs which can lead to hypothermia.
If you have a history of asthma or emphysema,(COPD) or other chronic lung disease, limit your exposure to the cold temperatures.
The cold weather can lead to flare ups of asthma or COPD, as well as trigger increases in your blood pressure. Patients with a history of coronary artery disease should limit any cold weather exercise or activities, since there is an increased risk of heart attacks in the colder temperatures.
Patients who have lupus and rheumatoid arthritis as well as lymes disease may often complain or more aches and pains during the colder temperatures, and efforts should be made to keep them in a warm environment.
Do not run a generator indoors, if your power should fail. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is significant and can be deadly. Carbon monoxide is a gas which is odorless tasteless and colorless. The only safe place is outdoors- well away from any open windows.
If you have coronary artery disease, or are obese, consult your physician to see if you are healthy enough to shovel snow. Limit snow shoveling to less than 10-15 minutes in colder temperatures, with special attention to taking frequent breaks and making sure to drink plenty of fluids prior to, and after the activity. If you experience any chest pain or shortness of breath, stop immediately and call 911. Shoveling snow is associated with intense physical exertion, and those who are not in optimal condition could be at risk for a heart attack.
The elderly and the young are a highest risk for hypothermia in colder temperatures. Make sure to remove any wet clothes, and cover persons with warm blankets. Shivering is a normal response to cold temperatures- its the body’s way of generating heat. If confusion or dizziness is noted in any elderly person who appears to have cold pale skin, call 911 immediately.