The human species belong to the categories of warm-blooded mammals, meaning we are capable of maintaining homeostasis by keeping our body temperature roughly at constant level regardless of the ambient or environmental temperature and involves our body's ability to cool down or produce more heat. Temperature regulation also includes regulation of metabolism, either by increasing or decreasing it.
However, like machines, our body has limitations that when exceeds it limit, more than the body can endure, our body's use of its defense mechanism against harmful stimuli deteriorates and losses its function. When subjected to an extremely cold environment for example, more than it can handle, our body will suffer from hypothermia wherein the body's core temperature falls below the required level for normal metabolism to produce more heat. As the body temperature drops, the body' defense is to shiver as an attempt to generate heat. However, if our body fails to thermoregulate, mental confusion and other debilitating complications such as loss of a limb or body parts and even death can occur.
Treatment of hypothermia varies according to the severity and location of the affected area as cold injuries can be categorized into non-freezing, freezing and the worst is hypothermia. Non-freezing injuries include chilblains, immersion foot and trenchfoot. Freezing injuries consist of frostnip and frostbite.
At the first sign of the body's failure to fight exposure to severe cold, necessary interventions are needed so that the body does not deteriorate. One basic medical intervention is through rewarming which comprises of various methods and provisions such as employing properly insulated clothing, warming device like hot water bottles and baths and being away from the source of cold. More invasive measures include the use of intravenous fluid infusions to induce cold diuresis or dilution and removal of cold body fluids, irrigation of body cavities such as thorax, peritoneum, bladder and the likes, with warmed fluids.
Suffering from the ill effects of exposure to cold is definitely has its deleterious effects and more costly compared to a few and basic preventive measures. If the temperature drops too low, keeping the doors and windows close, having layers of clothing and blankets around the body will help but will not suffice to keep the body at its ambient body temperature once the air gets too cold beyond the body's tolerance. Aggressive and non-aggressive treatments, invasive and non-invasive, matched by the degree of hypothermia is way too far and way too expensive compared to a well-functioning centralized heating system that will come handy during winter season.
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