HYPOTHERMIA IN THE ELDERLY

Hypothermia means "low heat." The term describes a condition when the deep body temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit or 35 degrees Centigrade. Hypothermia occurs when heat loss exceeds the body's ability to generate or conserve heat. It can range in severity from mild to life-threatening.

Older adults are at greater risk for cold injury because the body's ability to maintain a constant internal temperature decreases with age. If a chronic condition affects the circulatory or neurologic system or the thyroid, then their risk is even greater. Physical or behavioral limitations can also interfere with an older adult's ability to react to their environment easily. Even some of the commonly taken medications increase their risk for hypothermia. Other factors, such as poorly heated homes and poor nutrition, also put older adults at risk for cold injury.

Symptoms of hypothermia include:

shivering
cold skin
loss of control of fine finger movements
blue-gray color of the fingers, toes, ears, or nose
sluggishness or drowsiness
confusion
slurred speech
slow and shallow breathing
rigid muscles and
unconsciousness

If possible, it is important to get the person out of the cold into heated shelter. Cold or wet clothing should be removed. Wrap the person in blankets or other warm coverings. If the person is alert, they can have warm, not hot, liquids but they should not drink any alcoholic beverages.

If frostbite is suspected, do not massage or rub frostbitten areas and do not apply any ointments. Treatment varies with the type of frostbite. Care should be taken to avoid bruising the skin or tissue and to prevent infection. Rewarming or thawing of a frostbite injury should never be attempted if medical care is immediately available. Call for emergency medical care as quickly as possible.

To avoid hypothermia:

eat well and avoid alcoholic beverages
wear layered clothing, a hat, scarf, and gloves when going out in the cold
remove wet or cold clothes as soon as possible and
housing temperatures should be no cooler than 65 degrees Fahrenheit (or 18.3 degrees Centigrade), even at night

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File AGIN3382.RF2 VRS# 7843 Data Version 7.0