HHS HealthBeat (March 03, 2009)

Cold and the old

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Winter can be a lot of fun. But for older people, it can also cause trouble. At the National Institute on Aging, Dr. Jack Guralnik points to hypothermia – when someone’s temperature drops so low that it interferes with normal metabolism.

[Dr. Jack Guralnik speaks] "Older people – especially those with chronic diseases like diabetes – can develop hypothermia even in environments that, for younger people, would just seem chilly."

One way to deal with hypothermia is to look for it. For instance, Guralnik advises taking a person’s temperature if you suspect hypothermia. If it’s below 96 degrees, call 911.

Hypothermia is not just for the old, of course. Younger people can get it, too. It just means people lose heat faster than their bodies can create it, such as during time being soaked by a cold rain.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: March, 04 2009