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The overall effects of alcohol lead to a decrease in body temperature and a decreased ability to generate body heat in response to cold environments. [34] Alcohol is a common risk factor for death due to hypothermia. [ 33 ]
Targeted temperature management (TTM), previously known as therapeutic hypothermia or protective hypothermia, is an active treatment that tries to achieve and maintain a specific body temperature in a person for a specific duration of time in an effort to improve health outcomes during recovery after a period of stopped blood flow to the brain. [1]
Severe cases can cause cardiac arrest. [9] Hypothermia should be treated first, if present, by bringing core body temperature above 35 degrees Celsius. [6] [10] Raynaud's phenomenon: An abnormal spasming of blood vessels often in the tips of fingers and toes - usually in response to strong emotions or cold exposure. [8]
Normal body temperature is around 37°C (98.6°F), and hypothermia sets in when the core body temperature gets lower than 35 °C (95 °F). [2] Usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, hypothermia is usually treated by methods that attempt to raise the body temperature back to a normal range. [3]
Sufficient stress from extreme external temperature may cause injury or death if it exceeds the ability of the body to thermoregulate. Hypothermia can set in when the core temperature drops to 35 °C (95 °F). [2] Hyperthermia can set in when the core body temperature rises above 37.5–38.3 °C (99.5–100.9 °F).
Treatment is by rewarming, by immersion in warm water (near body temperature) or by body contact, and should be done only when consistent temperature can be maintained so that refreezing is not a risk. [2] [1] Rapid heating or cooling should be avoided since it could potentially cause burning or heart stress. [9]
Other circumstances also affect the body's temperature. The core body temperature of an individual tends to have the lowest value in the second half of the sleep cycle; the lowest point, called the nadir, is one of the primary markers for circadian rhythms. The body temperature also changes when a person is hungry, sleepy, sick, or cold.
Hypothermia is a low core body temperature, defined clinically as a temperature of less than 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). The patient is re-warmed either by using a cardiac bypass or by irrigation of the body cavities (such as thorax, peritoneum, bladder) with warm fluids; or warmed IV fluids.