I’ve often heard these kinds of comments from my family and patients over the years, and I found that this article in the Farmer’s Almanac touches on some of those very issues.
- Cold Weather causes a common cold. No, it does not—viruses, not freezing temperatures, cause colds. People confined to close contact are more likely to catch a virus.
- You Lose Most of Your Body Heat Through Your Head: only 10% of your body heat is being lost through your head.
- Rub your Fingers or Toes if they feel Cold. Not a good idea. Try wriggling them first. If they feel numb, do not rub them. Frostbite can damage tissue. Use warmth, layering, movement, and warm beverages.
- Is a Cup of Coffee or a Sip of Brandy a Good Way to Warm Up? No. Caffeine can constrict blood vessels, and alcohol can reduce shivering. Drink warm water or hot chocolate!
- Hypothermia after a Cold-Water Immersion will kill you immediately. Remember the 1-10-1 rule: one minute, ten minutes, one hour. Take one minute to control your breathing (do not panic) and ten minutes to perform any meaningful movement to get out of the water. One hour before, hypothermia will render you unconscious, so assume HELP and a Huddle Position (Cross your arms tightly over your chest, pull your knees up to your chest, huddle with others) to minimize heat loss.
- Dehydration is not a Danger When You Exercise in Cold Weather: false. You are still sweating and losing more water through your breath in colder weather.
- If you are stranded and thirsty, you should eat snow: Not a good idea, as eating snow or sucking on ice will lower your body temperature. It would be best if you tried melting ice (Ice >snow) in a plastic bag between your clothing layers (not directly against the skin)
- If I am feeling cold, does that mean you are feeling chilly, too? No. Age, gender (female), fitness level, and acclimatization determine when you “feel” cold.
- It would help if you stopped shivering: No. Shivering means your body is trying to warm up. Shivering happens involuntarily—it’s one of the ways (along with an increased metabolism and breathing rate) that your body automatically responds to heat loss.
- Does cold always feel the same? No. Several factors can influence the perception of cold: the body’s adaptation and acclimatization, the sensation of coldness in the fall, expectations and memories, wind chill, humidity, and physiological factors.
Tarak Vasavada, MD