Can I die cold? Find out how much the human body can manage the negative temperature

Difficulty adapting to very low temperatures can cause hypothermia

The temperatures have fallen and it seems that winter will be intense in most of Brazil. With thermometers that record such low temperatures, the question is: what is the lowest temperature that the human body is able to bear?

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Although the effects of the cold vary according to the size and shape of the body, the human organism has difficulty adapting to very low temperatures and can cause hypothermia and lead to death.

When hypothermia becomes a risk

A adequately dressed person can survive at a temperature up to -29 ° C in the absence of wind, according to the British physiologist Frances M. Ashcroft in his book Life on the edge: The Science of Survival.

The book underlines that the thermal sensation is influenced by wind speed and that prolonged exposure to low temperatures can lead to hypothermia and death.

In the work, the physiologist says that if the wind is 16 km/h, the temperature drops to -44º and the skin would freeze in a minute or two. If the wind were 40 km/h, the temperature would be equivalent to -66 ° C, freezing it in less than 30 seconds.

Gustavo Lenci Marques, cardiologist and professor of medicine at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (Pucpr), says that it is always good to take care, because the environments with positive temperatures also offer risks.

“Here in the South, it is not uncommon, for example, in this period of the year, we serve homeless that have had an extreme cold cardiac arrest. And we are not even talking about negative temperatures, which are not so common for us,” he said.

According to the expert, a positive temperature close to zero degrees, for example, a person without protection does not barely survive. “It depends on the preparation, on the way the person is accustomed, to the mechanisms of adaptation of his body, would tolerate, but still with great risk.”

As for the reaction that exposure to the cold cause and as it causes death, the doctor explained that the body, when it is a very low temperature, begins to reduce its actions and the activity is slower.

“The heart is beating more slowly, the brain is working less, the body is losing activities for the little. It is not a sudden death. It is as if the person is sleeping, falling asleep,” he said.

In the cold, some parts of the body, such as nose, ears or face, can start freezing if the exposure is prolonged. In order not to take a useless risk, the medical recommendation is the use of hot clothing every time it starts.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.