For many people living throughout the United States, this has been a particularly cold and snowy winter. In this kind of weather, older people may be especially susceptible to hypothermia — when body temperature drops below normal and stays at that level for an extended period.
As we age, our bodies are less able to withstand long periods of exposure to cold, according to the National Institute on Aging. Also, some medications and medical conditions can inhibit our ability to respond to it. Being less active means we produce less body heat, and this can lead to hypothermia after a small temperature decrease.
It's important to watch for signs of hypothermia, including slow or slurred speech, confusion or sleepiness, shivering, stiffness in the arms and legs, weak pulse, slow reactions, and poor control of body movements.
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