Understanding Hypothermia: Severe Effects on the Body and Strange Behaviors Explained

KOMPAS.com – Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when the temperature in the core of the body drops to 35 degrees Celsius or lower.

When experiencing hypothermia, the body will shiver and most people will have difficulty moving.

People affected by hypothermia will also appear dazed and confused. They may slurp or act as if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Severe effects of hypothermia on the body

Reporting from Live Science, if hypothermia becomes severe, breathing and heart rate can slow to dangerous levels so that a person can lose consciousness and eventually die.

Also read: 4 Facts about Hypothermia that you need to know

However, before losing consciousness, a person suffering from hypothermia usually exhibits some strange behavior which may be a last resort for survival.

In the final stages of severe hypothermia, humans exhibit a behavior known to researchers as “terminal digging.”

In a 1995 article in the International Journal of Legal Medicine, German researchers described hypothermic victims dying in positions that exemplified the last protective mechanism, namely under beds, behind wardrobes, on shelves, and so on.

This “terminal digging” behavior is not widely studied or understood, but the researchers describe it as an autonomous process of the brainstem, which is triggered in the late state of hypothermia and produces primitive protective behaviors, such as hibernating animals and burrowing.

Also read: How Cold is Mount Everest?

Paradoxical undressing

Launching IFL Science, about 25 percent of people who die from hypothermia experience “paradoxical undressing” in its final stages.

Paradoxical undressing is the behavior among many victims of extreme hypothermia of removing most or all of their clothing so that their body loses even more heat. Paradoxical undressing often occurs right before terminal excavation.

There are several theories explaining the cause of paradoxical undressing, including damage to the temperature-regulating areas of the brain.

Another theory is that when a person is hypothermic, the muscles that contract the blood vessels in the legs are so tired that the muscles relax.

Also read: Why Do Deserts Get So Cold At Night?

In effect, this sends blood to the extremities and makes them believe that their body is real so they undress in a dazed state.

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2023-07-07 05:30:00
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