Oh-So-Cold Temperatures Plague Older People
HealthDay – SUNDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) — Hypothermia, frostbite, and falls are among the winter-related dangers faced by older adults, warns the American Geriatrics Society’s Foundation for Health in Aging.
They’re more susceptible to hypothermia, or dangerously low body temperature, in part because older people have a slower metabolism and produce less body heat than younger people, the society said. In addition, it added, body changes can make it harder for older people to tell when the outside temperature is too low.
To prevent hypothermia, older adults should:
- Stay indoors when it’s very cold and windy outside. Keep indoor temperatures at about 65 degrees F.
- When going outside, don’t stay in the cold or wind for too long. Wear two or three thinner layers of loose-fitting clothing, which provide more warmth than a single layer of thick clothing. Also wear a coat, hat, gloves or mittens, boots and a scarf to cover your nose and mouth and protect your lungs from very cold air. [...]
Source: Yahoo News – click here for full article
