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Hidden Crisis: Why does moderate hypothermia make people stop shivering but become more confused?
During the cold winter months, many people are at risk of hypothermia due to prolonged exposure to low temperatures. Hypothermia is a drop in the body's core temperature below 35.0 °C (95.0 °F), with symptoms that change as body temperature drops. Compared with milder hypothermia, moderate hypothermia is characterized by the cessation of shivering, but is accompanied by more obvious mental confusion. This makes people think, why does the body choose to stop shivering when faced with such a severe challenge?
Theoretical background of hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs mainly for two reasons: one is prolonged exposure to a cold environment, and the other is other factors that cause heat consumption or loss. However, unlike the shivering response manifested by mild hypothermia, moderate hypothermia may cause the disappearance of shivering, which may cause people to misperceive the dangerous situation they are in.
When faced with a cold environment, the body's natural response is to generate a sensation of heat. Shivering helps to increase body temperature, but once the shivering stops, it means that the body is responding to hypothermia in different ways.
Effects of moderate hypothermia
When the body temperature reaches moderate hypothermia, patients may experience mental confusion, including memory loss and impaired judgment. At this time, their heartbeat and breathing may slow down, which appears to be the body's protective response. But strikingly, this state is often accompanied by a higher risk of death.
At this stage, the patient's behavior may worsen to the point where they misjudge or even ignore danger signs around them.
Psychological and physiological reasons for stopping trembling
Studies have pointed out that when there is moderate hypothermia, the human body's physiological response will change the threshold. This is because as body temperature decreases, the body's self-heat regulation system becomes exhausted. As a result, the self-protection mechanism of trembling can no longer continue due to energy exhaustion. This cessation of trembling often causes patients to falsely believe that they are in good condition, thus further delaying the opportunity for rescue.
Safe self-protection or false signal?
In cases of moderate hypothermia, patients often exhibit rebellious behaviors—such as the psychological effect of taking off clothing, called "paradoxical undressing." This chaotic behavior not only increases the rate at which the body dissipates heat, but also makes it difficult for rescuers to correctly identify its condition. Faced with such a situation, rescuers need to have the ability to recognize moderate hypothermia and fully understand the patient's psychological state.
Prevention and response
The best way to prevent hypothermia is to adapt to the cold environment, such as wearing suitable clothing to maintain body temperature and replenishing hot drinks in time. In addition, it is crucial to choose appropriate self-protection measures when faced with the danger of hypothermia. For patients with moderate hypothermia, external heating should be performed using heating blankets and other props while remaining still to avoid further heat loss.
Understanding the human body's response to cold can help us prevent hypothermia more effectively and respond correctly in critical moments.
Conclusion
The physiological and psychological mechanisms hidden behind moderate hypothermia give us more room to think when facing the risk of hypothermia. Why does the body stop shivering protectively? What impact will such a psychological reaction have on our survival?
