You think of freezing to death and you probably imagine drifting peacefully into an arctic slumber, unaware that you’ll never wake up again. But is it really that easy? How painful is dying from hypothermia? Do people who freeze to death even feel it? In this article, you’ll learn exactly how your body responds when you plummet in temperature. We also explore whether or not freezing to death is as painless as most people believe, and if there are any ways of mitigating the effects of hypothermia.
Is Freezing To Death Painful?
It is difficult to say whether or not freezing to death is painful. The process of freezing can affect different people differently. Some people may experience more pain than others while undergoing the freezing process. Additionally, pain can vary depending on the specific conditions that are present as the person is freezing. One way to think about the process of freezing is to imagine the body’s cells being damaged by cold temperatures. This damage can cause the cells to become overwhelmed and begin to break down. it is difficult to say whether or not freezing to death is painful because there are many factors that contribute to the experience of pain.
How Cold Must You Be To Die From Hypothermia?
- While you’re unlikely to die from hypothermia if the temperature is above freezing, it’s the sudden drop in temperature that poses the real risk. Most people can expect to die if their core temperature drops below 95 degrees F.
- This makes the onset of hypothermia a lot quicker than you might think. As a general rule, if you’re not wearing warm clothes in a cold environment, you’re already at risk of developing hypothermia.
- Your risk of death from hypothermia increases dramatically if you’re wet. Your clothing becomes heavier when it’s wet, making it harder for your body to stay warm.
- If you’re in the water or are otherwise exposed to wind, you’re at an even greater risk of dropping your core temperature.
Why Does Hypothermia Make Us Feel So Bad?
Shivering is our body’s defense mechanism
Shivering is the body’s first line of defense against hypothermia. It’s triggered by the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our “fight or flight” response to stress. In other words, shivering is an involuntary response designed to warm the body when it senses a decrease in core temperature. Shivering increases your metabolic rate, which produces heat. The metabolic rate is often referred to as the “engine” that fuels our muscles and organs. When shivering, the metabolic rate increases dramatically. The production of heat from shivering isn’t enough to prevent hypothermia. The problem is that shivering also consumes calories and decreases blood flow to the extremities. This can lead to frostbite, particularly in people who have a low body temperature.
Goosebumps are our body’s alarm system
The superficial muscles of the skin are controlled by a separate nervous system. This system is referred to as the autonomic nervous system. When the body temperature drops below a certain point, this system “activates” the muscles in the skin to produce goosebumps. This is a natural defense mechanism that helps to protect the body from cold temperatures. Goosebumps trap warm air within the skin. This warms the body further, thus avoiding potential hypothermia. Goosebumps have also been shown to spark endorphin production. This is the same pain-relieving chemical released during exercise. Goosebumps are a good thing, as long as they aren’t persistent. Persistent goosebumps can be a sign of an underlying disease.
Cold extremities can cause muscle stiffness and weakness
During mild cases of hypothermia, the extremities are likely to feel very cold. The hands, feet, and legs are especially vulnerable to low temperatures. When we feel temperatures below 90 degrees Fahrenheit, our blood vessels begin to close to prevent the blood from freezing. This is a natural response designed to protect the rest of the body. The body can’t regulate blood flow as effectively when it’s cold. This can cause blood vessels to close off entirely in certain parts of the body, such as the hands and feet. If these areas remain cold for a prolonged period of time, the muscles may begin to stiffen. This is known as peripheral neuropathy. It can cause muscle stiffness and weakness in the extremities, making it difficult or impossible to walk. This is an early sign of hypothermia, so it’s important to monitor yourself for these symptoms.
Drowsiness and confusion are byproducts of hypoxia
When the body’s temperature drops too low, our metabolic rate slows down. We also produce less carbon dioxide and increase the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. The combination of these two factors can cause drowsiness and confusion. This is a byproduct of hypoxia. Hypoxia is a condition caused by too little oxygen in the bloodstream. In mild cases of hypothermia, oxygen levels in the bloodstream are reduced significantly. This can cause drowsiness and confusion among other symptoms. We typically associate these symptoms with altitude sickness and carbon monoxide poisoning. However, they can also occur when the body’s temperature drops. If you experience these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
How Does Freezing To Death Feel?
Finding shelter is more important than building a fire.
When you’re lost in the snow, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the urge to build a big fire and keep yourself warm. While that is certainly helpful, it’s more important to find a place to get out of the elements. Finding shelter before you start a fire will keep you drier and warmer than if you rely on fire alone. If you build a fire, water will seep into your snow cave and evaporate the warmth out of it. A fire can also draw the attention of people in the area, which can help you get rescued.
Shivering is the first sign that you’re freezing; it’s an indicator of hypothermia.
One of the first signs that you’re freezing is shivering. Shivering is actually your body’s way of trying to generate heat. If your body is too cold, it halts all non-essential activity in order to focus on keeping your organs warm. To help raise your body temperature and get your blood flowing again, your body will start contracting your muscles and generating heat. That’s why you’ll often see people shiver when they’re too cold; they’re trying to warm themselves up. If shivering becomes uncontrollable, it’s a sign that your body is too cold and you’re experiencing hypothermia. Hypothermia is a dangerous condition that can lead to death.
People who freeze to death don’t usually die until days after they froze.
One myth about freezing to death is that the person will freeze instantly after being exposed to the cold. While it’s true that if your core temperature drops below 95 degrees, you will freeze to death within a few minutes, that’s not what happens to people who freeze to death. When you freeze to death, your core temperature will fall below 95 degrees, but it won’t drop to 0 degrees instantly. You can last for days or even weeks before your body temperature drops to the point where you freeze solid.
Wrapping up and staying dry will keep you warm.
Another common myth is that wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warm and safe from the cold. While it’s true that wearing a bunch of layers will help keep you warm, wearing several layers is better than wearing only one layer. The reason for this is that if you’re wearing several layers, you can layer your clothes to keep yourself warm. However, if you’re wearing a single layer, your blood will pool in your skin and keep your body temperature down. When you’re outside, you’ll want to make sure to keep your head, hands, and feet warm. The coldest parts of your body are usually your extremities, so you want to keep them warm to prevent them from freezing.
Summing Up
When you’re freezing to death, your body tries to warm itself up by shunting blood away from your skin and towards your internal organs. This is why your skin turns pale and feels cold and stiff when you’re freezing. Your blood vessels contract when you’re exposed to really cold temperatures, which is why you’re likely to experience symptoms such as numbness and a decline in motor function. As your body temperature drops, your metabolism slows down, and you become less and less able to regulate your temperature. If temperatures stay below freezing for long enough, your heart and other muscles will become too cold to function properly. Freezing to death is a painful process, but it can happen surprisingly quickly if you’re not careful!
