Much of the United States has felt the cold snap that stretches from Texas to Massachusetts. With the official start of winter still a few days away, forecasters warned that the entire eastern two-thirds of the United States would feel the bite of the invading Arctic cold that triggered the storm. Dr. Emily Senay has important information on how to avoid over-exposure to the cold and how to treat frostbite and hypothermia. Hypothermia and its main symptoms Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature dips below the optimal 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Symptoms take effect in three stages.
The first stage is mild hypothermia. It is characterized by bouts of shivering, grogginess and muddled thinking. The second stage is moderate hypothermia. Symptoms include violent shivering or shivering with sudden stops, inability to think and pay attention, slow, shallow breathing, or slow, weak pulse. The severe hypothermia has set in when shivering stops.