What is hypothermia?

What is hypothermia?

• A. An increase in heart rate during cold exposure.
• B. A mild chill with no effect on core temperature.
• C. A lowering of the core body temperature due to exposure to cold water or air, resulting in a subnormal body temperature.
• D. A temporary fever caused by infection.

Answer: (C)

Hypothermia happens when the body loses heat faster than it can be produced, causing the core temperature to fall below normal. It is defined by a core temperature dropping to about 95°F (35°C) or lower, resulting in a subnormal body temperature due to exposure to cold water or cold air. This matches the description of a lowering of the core body temperature from cold exposure. The other statements describe responses that aren’t the defining feature: heart rate changes can occur with cold exposure, a mild chill with no core temperature change isn’t hypothermia, and a fever from infection is the opposite—body temperature is elevated, not lowered.

Hypothermia happens when the body loses heat faster than it can be produced, causing the core temperature to fall below normal. It is defined by a core temperature dropping to about 95°F (35°C) or lower, resulting in a subnormal body temperature due to exposure to cold water or cold air. This matches the description of a lowering of the core body temperature from cold exposure. The other statements describe responses that aren’t the defining feature: heart rate changes can occur with cold exposure, a mild chill with no core temperature change isn’t hypothermia, and a fever from infection is the opposite—body temperature is elevated, not lowered.