Dressing Appropriately for Cold Weather

Dressing Appropriately for Cold Weather
by Amy Valerino

Cold weather is here and dressing appropriately is essential in order to stay healthy. If not dressed properly, overexposure to the cold and outdoor elements can lead to serious health conditions. It is essential to keep various layers on, even while exercising.

Frostbite and Hypothermia

Over exposure to the cold can result in hypothermia or frostbite. Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature falls below 96 degrees. The National Institute of Aging reported 28,000 deaths from hypothermia last year. Most of these deaths were elderly people because their skin is less sensitive to cold, therefore it is harder to see signs of a dangerously low temperature.

Signs of hypothermia include

violent shivering
person stops shivering
slow breathing with a slow pulse
mental confusion
unconsciousness

Frostbite occurs when the body begins to divert blood flow from the extremities to the major internal organs following exposure to cold temperatures. To avoid frostbite, make sure that every part of the body is covered in warm dry clothing.

Signs of frostbite include

burning, tingling sensation
skin becoming hard and white, or yellow and shiny
blisters, peels

If you experience any of signs of hypothermia or frostbite, contact a doctor immediately.

How to Dress Appropriately

Dressing in layers is the best advice for handling the wintry weather. The purpose is to retain body heat and stay dry. Layers should be loose to leave room for air pockets to lock in heat. Layers that are too thick will not trap your bodies' heat.

Keep your head covered – 90% of your body heat can be lost through the top of your head.

Various clothing materials may help. Wearing insulated materials help trap body heat (ie. Down, wool) while some of the newer synthetic materials (ie. Underarmour’s™ Cold Gear or Nike’s™ Dri-FIT) prevent chill by keeping you dry.

During outside exercise keep your layers on. Your body may feel hot because you are burning calories, but you are still at risk of getting hypothermia or frostbite. Sweat doesn’t absorb easily in the wintry weather, leaving you wet and cold. So synthetic clothing is perfect for playing sports or exercising outside. Any part of the body exposed to the cold temperatures or bitter winds are at high risk of frostbite.

Bundle up!

Dressing Appropriately for Cold Weather by Amy Valerino

Please call Hereford Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine for assistance or consultation with your physical therapy needs.

Dressing Appropriately for Cold Weather
by Amy Valerino