1-27-09

Cold Weather and Senior Citizens

Cold temperatures can be dangerous for seniors if precautions are not taken, but a watchful eye can prevent debilitating results.

One of the most common cold-weather-related injuries among senior citizens is hypothermia.  Dr. Amber Barnhart, associate professor of family and community medicine at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, explains the condition.

SOUND BITE: “Hypothermia means your body temperature is lower than it really should be.  For most people that’s around 95 or less.  We often see people who have been lying on the ground having temperatures below 90.  The big problem with that is that the blood can’t circulate the way it should and judgment gets impaired very quickly in that situation.” 

Dr. Barnhart says senior citizens are especially vulnerable to hypothermia because their bodies don’t react to the cold temperatures as quickly as young people.   Hypothermia affects judgment, so seniors may not realize what they need to do to improve their situation.  Sometimes they fall and aren’t found for a while.  Dr. Barnhart explains some other symptoms.

SOUND BITE: “With hypothermia, people start having their hands and their toes not getting as much blood as they should, and so those digits will turn kind of yellow and white.  The brain doesn’t work as well as they should either so their balance issues (Kim - vol. raises) can occur as well as judgment issues.  Ultimately because of the blood vessel problems, people are at risk for heart attacks because of hypothermia as well.” 

Dr. Barnhart suggests that family members and neighbors check on seniors on a daily basis during cold weather to make sure they are staying warm.  If a senior has symptoms of hypothermia, they should promptly see a primary care physician or go to the emergency room for evaluation and possible treatment.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.