Older adults can lose body heat faster than when they were young. A big chill can turn into a dangerous problem before an older person even knows what?s happening.
Doctors call this serious problem hypothermia, and it can happen indoors or out. A new, easy-to-read booklet from NIH?s National Institute on Aging called Stay Safe in Cold Weather! offers tips on avoiding this dangerous condition.
Hypothermia strikes when a person?s body temperature drops below 95 degrees. Low body temperature can lead to a heart attack, kidney problems, liver damage and sometimes death. Several hundred people in the U.S., half of them age 65 or older, die from hypothermia each year.
The new 12-page booklet describes hypothermia and discusses how to prevent it both in the home and outdoors, the health problems that can increase an older person?s risk of hypothermia and warning signs to look out for.