New Delhi   

Do not ignore low body temperature, say doctors

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: With the mercury dipping sharply this winter, hypothermia deaths have become disturbingly common and physicians have cautioned people to look out for signs including absence of shivering when exposed to cold.

"It is a danger signal and signifies body defence mechanisms' failure. If a person is found to be with low temperature, immediate steps should be taken to warm the body. The first step is to wrap him or her up in a blanket and provide an external atmosphere of warmth," said the Delhi Medical Association president, Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, on Tuesday.

Viral and pneumonia

Adding that sudden exposure to cold can also precipitate viral flu and pneumonia, he said: "Heart and lung patients are therefore especially advised not to walk early in the morning. All blood pressure patients should take their blood pressure medicines on time and should cover the early morning period, which is the most dangerous period. Maximum sudden deaths, heart attacks and brain haemorrhage attacks in winter are noticed early in the morning. One should contact one's doctors if the blood pressure is fluctuating."

Doctors also maintained that during peak winter chances of plaque rupture are high and one can get a sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, rise in blood pressure and an attack of brain haemorrhage.

`Cover sensitive parts'

"People are advised to cover sensitive parts like ear canals, nasal openings, neck and head. Children and older people and those exposed to the cold winter for long should take adequate precaution to dress warm and not let their body temperature fall. We are seeing a lot of patients coming in with viral fever (cough, cold and temperature) and pneumonia," said Delhi Medical Council member Anil Bansal.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

New Year bashes or show of strength?
MCD to auction property of major tax defaulters
Now round the week medical care for senior citizens
Directive to decide cases ex-parte
94 engineers on penal action list
Britain offers `complete learning experience' to foreign students
Regional film-makers still in search of recognition
Some relief from intense cold
BJP writes to Chief Justice on power scam
Do not ignore low body temperature, say doctors
A tale of three sisters
MTNL ties up with Easy Bill
Alleged highway robbers arrested
A rather unusual film festival
DU teachers seek funds from UGC
JNU lights a controversy over cigarette ban move
Court asks Centre how much it will pay Ten Sports for feed
16 freeze to death in Uttar Pradesh
Briefly
In the Capital Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu