Im Going to Be Warm Again

If you are like most people, you feel cold every now and then during the winter. What you may non know is that just beingness actually cold can make you very sick.

Older adults can lose torso rut fast—faster than when they were young. Changes in your body that come up with aging can make information technology harder for you to be aware of getting cold. A large chill can turn into a unsafe problem earlier an older person even knows what's happening. Doctors call this serious trouble hypothermia.

What Is Hypothermia?

Hypothermia is what happens when your body temperature gets very low. For an older person, a body temperature of 95°F or lower can cause many health bug, such as a heart set on, kidney bug, liver harm, or worse.

Being outside in the cold, or even being in a very cold house, tin lead to hypothermia. Try to stay abroad from cold places, and pay attention to how common cold information technology is where you are. Yous tin accept steps to lower your risk of getting hypothermia.

Keep Warm Inside

Living in a common cold business firm, apartment, or other building can crusade hypothermia. In fact, hypothermia can happen to someone in a nursing home or group facility if the rooms are not kept warm enough. If someone you know is in a grouping facility, pay attention to the inside temperature and to whether that person is dressed warmly enough.

People who are sick may have special bug keeping warm. Exercise non let information technology get too cold inside and dress warmly. Even if yous continue your temperature between 60°F and 65°F, your home or apartment may non be warm enough to keep you safe. This is a special problem if you live solitary because there is no one else to feel the chilliness of the firm or find if you are having symptoms of hypothermia.

Here are some tips for keeping warm while you're inside:

• Set your rut to at least 68–70°F. To save on heating bills, close off rooms you are not using. Close the vents and shut the doors in these rooms, and go on the basement door closed. Place a rolled towel in front of all doors to keep out drafts.
• Brand sure your house isn't losing estrus through windows. Keep your blinds and curtains airtight. If you lot have gaps around the windows, try using weather stripping or caulk to proceed the common cold air out.
• Dress warmly on cold days fifty-fifty if y'all are staying in the business firm. Throw a blanket over your legs. Vesture socks and slippers.
• When you go to sleep, wear long underwear nether your pajamas, and use extra covers. Wear a cap or lid.
• Make sure you eat enough food to keep upwards your weight. If you don't eat well, you lot might accept less fat under your skin. Trunk fat helps you to stay warm.
• Drink booze moderately, if at all. Alcoholic drinks can make you lose body estrus.
• Ask family or friends to check on you during common cold atmospheric condition. If a power outage leaves you without heat, endeavor to stay with a relative or friend.

Yous may be tempted to warm your room with a space heater. But, some space heaters are fire hazards, and others tin can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has information on the use of space heaters. Read the following for more information: Reducing Fire Hazards for Portable Electric Heaters and 7 Highly Effective Portable Heater Safety Habits.

Bundle Upwardly on Windy, Cold Days

Share this infographic to learn tips nigh exercising safely in cold conditions.

A heavy wind tin quickly lower your body temperature. Check the weather forecast for windy and cold days. On those days, try to stay inside or in a warm place. If you accept to leave, wear warm clothes, and don't stay out in the common cold and wind for a long time.

Here are some other tips:

• Dress for the conditions if you accept to go out on chilly, cold, or damp days.
• Habiliment loose layers of clothing. The air between the layers helps to keep you warm.
• Put on a hat and scarf. You lose a lot of body rut when your head and neck are uncovered.
• Vesture a waterproof glaze or jacket if it'southward snowy.
• Change your wearing apparel right away if they get damp or wet.

Disease, Medicines, and Cold Weather

Some illnesses may get in harder for your body to stay warm.

• Thyroid issues can make it difficult to maintain a normal torso temperature.
• Diabetes can go along blood from flowing normally to provide warmth.
• Parkinson'due south disease and arthritis tin can make information technology hard to put on more clothes, employ a blanket, or get out of the cold.
• Memory loss can cause a person to go outside without the right clothing.

Talk with your doctor well-nigh your health problems and how to forestall hypothermia.

Taking some medicines and not being active also can affect body rut. These include medicines you get from your medico and those you buy over-the-counter, such as some cold medicines. Inquire your doctor if the medicines you accept may touch torso heat. E'er talk with your doctor before you stop taking any medication.

Here are some topics to talk about with your doctor to stay safe in cold weather:

• Ask your doctor about signs of hypothermia.
• Talk to your doctor almost whatsoever health issues and medicines that can brand hypothermia a special trouble for you. Your doctor can aid you discover means to forbid hypothermia.
• Enquire about rubber ways to stay active even when it's cold outside.

What Are the Warning Signs of Hypothermia?

Sometimes it is hard to tell if a person has hypothermia. Look for clues. Is the house very cold? Is the person not dressed for cold weather? Is the person speaking slower than normal and having problem keeping his or her balance?

Sentry for the signs of hypothermia in yourself, too. You might go dislocated if your body temperature gets very low. Talk to your family and friends about the warning signs so they can wait out for you.

Early signs of hypothermia:

• Cold feet and hands
• Puffy or swollen face
• Pale skin
• Shivering (in some cases the person with hypothermia does non shiver)
• Slower than normal oral communication or slurring words
• Interim sleepy
• Being aroused or confused

After signs of hypothermia:

• Moving slowly, trouble walking, or being clumsy
• Stiff and jerky arm or leg movements
• Slow heartbeat
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Blacking out or losing consciousness

Telephone call nine-1-i right abroad if you think someone has alert signs of hypothermia.

What to do after y'all telephone call 9-1-1:

• Try to move the person to a warmer identify.
• Wrap the person in a warm blanket, towels, or coats—whatsoever is handy. Even your own torso warmth will help. Lie close, but be gentle.
• Give the person something warm to drink, but avoid drinks with booze or caffeine, such equally regular coffee.
• Do not rub the person's legs or arms.
• Do not try to warm the person in a bath.
• Exercise non apply a heating pad.

Is There Assistance for My Heating Bills?

If you lot are having a hard time paying your heating bills, there are some resource that might help. Contact the National Energy Assistance Referral service at 1-866-674-6327 (TTY1-866-367-6228) or email the National Energy Assistance Referral (Nearly) project to go information about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

If your home doesn't have enough insulation, contact your state or local energy agency or the local power or gas company. They may be able to requite you information nearly weatherizing your dwelling house. This tin aid proceed heating bills down. These agencies and companies may also have special programs for people who take a limited income and qualify for help paying the heating bill. Your local Area Agency on Aging, senior center, or social service agency may take data on these programs.

For More Information About Common cold Atmospheric condition Condom

Consumer Product Safety Commission
800-638-2772
301-595-7054 (TTY)
world wide web.cpsc.gov

This content is provided by the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and upwards to engagement.

Content reviewed: January 01, 2018

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Source: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/cold-weather-safety-older-adults

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