NIH Radio
Hypothermia: A Cold Weather Risk for Older People
Brief Description:
Almost everyone knows about winter dangers such as broken bones from falls on icy steps, sidewalks or streets. But cold weather also can cause an important, less obvious danger that can affect older people.
Transcript:
Balintfy: Hypothermia occurs when a person's body temperature drops below normal and stays low for a prolonged period of time. Dr. Jack Guralnik at the National Institute on Aging says that with advancing age, the body's ability to endure long periods of exposure to cold is lowered, meaning older adults are especially vulnerable.
Guralnik: It's important to realize that older people, especially those with chronic diseases like diabetes, can develop hypothermia even in environments that for younger people would just seem chilly.
Balintfy: The best way to identify someone with hypothermia is to look for confusion or sleepiness, slowed or slurred speech, shivering or stiffness in the arms and legs, weak pulse, poor control over body movements or slow reactions. Dr. Guralnik recommends a memory aid that can help recognize hypothermia.
Guralnik: It's called the -umbles. If you can remember mumbles, stumbles, fumbles and grumbles—it can be irritability. Those four -umbles can help you recognize when hypothermia's there but people's behavior and ability to function definitely changes as they develop hypothermia.
Balintfy: Dr. Guralnik adds that someone with hypothermia may look puffy or their skin may feel cold. He says if you suspect that someone is suffering from the cold, and you have a thermometer available, take their temperature.
Guralnik: As you know, normal body temperature is 98.6. If their temperature is below 96 degrees, it is actually a medical emergency. You should dial 911. You should start piling on the blankets. If you have an electric blanket, use that. Make sure you take people to the warmest room in the house. If they're outdoors, bring them into a warm room and keep a close eye on them until medical help arrives.
Balintfy: Dr. Guralnik also emphasizes the importance of preventing hypothermia.
Guralnik: The best way, of course, is to make sure that people remain warm because as you get older, your ability to maintain body temperature does go down. So in the home, it's important not to let the temperature go too low. It's recommended that older people set their thermostats to at least 68 to 70 degrees. There are instances where people, even in the home, have developed hypothermia when the thermostat was set in the low 60s.
Balintfy: Dr. Gurlnik explains that outside, it's important to dress properly by wearing several layers of loose clothing, and wearing a hat, scarf and gloves or mittens. For more tips and information about hypothermia, visit www.nia.nih.gov. This is Joe Balintfy, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
About This Audio Report
Date: 2/6/2009
Reporter: Joe Balintfy
Sound Bite: Dr. Jack Guralnik
Topic: hypothermia, cold, temperature
Institute(s):
NIA
Additional Info:
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