Children and the elderly need extra care when temperatures drop for a long period of time.
SAN ANTONIO — Right now south Texas is in its third day of bitterly cold temperatures. But the longer the cold sticks around, the higher your chance of severe illness or injury, that you may not even recognize is already happening.
Health experts say extreme cold, or even if your body is simply exposed to temperatures that are below normal, can affect everything from your fingers and toes to your heart and brain. Starting with shivering which is your body trying to make heat.
Dr. Ralph Riviello, the chair of emergency medicine with University Health, and professor and chair of emergency medicine with UT Health San Antonio told us, “It diverts blood flow to various parts of your body so that the blood flow will increase production, and the muscle movement will increase heat production.”
When it comes to our lips, the cold affects them too. Kaitlyn Lopez, an emergency room nurse with Baptist Medical Center downtown added, “Our lips, not only are they getting cold, but they’re very dry, so of course, our lips are very brittle, so that’s kind of what makes it hard to talk as well.”
Dr. Riviello also said, “As wind hits it, it’s colder air. It’s moving across that larger surface. That numbness and tingling are often early warning signs of frostbite.”
When the body is exposed to the cold, it loses heat faster than it produces it. Over time the body temperatures drop as energy is lost, and if your body temperature falls below 95 degrees you can suffer illnesses. We all know about including hypothermia, frostbite, but also respiratory issues as blood vessels constrict, less blood flow to vital organs, like the brain. The heart and lungs are affected too.
“In the cold it makes our heart work a lot stronger,” Lopez said. “Our blood pressure elevates, which causes a lot of strain on our heart.”
Both health experts also told us to avoid alcohol in the cold. You may get a warm feeling when you drink it but it actually lowers your body temperature. And if your clothes end up wet in the cold, to make sure you change into dry clothes as quickly as possible.
The homeless are especially vulnerable to illness or injury in extreme cold. If you, or anyone you know is in need of services or assistance, you can call the Bexar County Homeless Connection Hotline at 210-207-1799. Rides to warming centers could also be available if needed.