The following provides additional information on hypothermia as well as links to related sites. Hypothermia describes the rapid, progressive mental and physical collapse accompanying the chilling of the inner core of the human body. Hypothermia is caused by exposure to cold, aggravated by wet, wind, and exhaustion. These elements can lead temperature drop inside the body that can be deadly if not found quickly and treated properly. What may seem like a mere couple of degrees can have a devastating effect.
Severe hypothermia can cause an irregular heartbeat leading to heart failure and death.
Regulated by the brain, body temperature is a balance between how much heat is produced and how much is lost. The body has many different reactions to cold. Shivering by the muscles, for instance, is one way the body produces heat. In respiration, heat escapes when air is exhaled. This can be reduced by covering the mouth and nose area with wool or a bandanna.