Babies and Older Adults Have an Increased Risk of Cold Injury
Topic Overview
Babies
Babies, especially newborns, are more likely to suffer injury from cold temperature exposure.
- They have a large body surface area compared with their weight. Their body heat is lost more rapidly when exposed to cold weather conditions.
- Their ability to regulate body temperatures is not well-developed. They are not able to shiver (which warms a person up).
- They don't have much fat under their skin (which keeps them warm).
Older adults
Older adults are more likely to have a cold injury, especially hypothermia, because:
- Their normal body temperature may decrease with age.
- They can't regulate their body temperature as well. They do not produce as much heat energy. They also have less body fat.
- Their blood vessels do not narrow (constrict) and conserve body heat as easily.
- They do not shiver as much. Shivering warms the body.
- Their mental awareness of changes in temperatures may change.
- They have medical conditions that increase their risk for hypothermia. Some of these conditions include:
- Arthritis .
- Thyroid disease.
- History of a stroke .
- Alzheimer's disease .
- Parkinson's disease .
- Diabetes .
- Heart failure .
- Poor nutrition.
- Multiple sclerosis .
- Body infection (sepsis).
- Skin conditions, such as psoriasis .
- They are more likely to be using medicines that may affect their response to cold.
- They may live alone and have fewer resources to keep them safe from cold injury. They are more likely to have poorly heated homes.
Credits
Current as of: June 26, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
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Topic Overview - Top of the page
Current as of: June 26, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine