Cold weather increases the risks of injuries, various illnesses, and mortality in seniors. Seniors’ health risks in winter range from minor injuries such as slip and fall on ice or snow to more serious illnesses including hypothermia, frostbite, and heart attacks.

It’s important that seniors and their family are aware of these winter health risks in order to prevent them from happening in the first place. Here are some cold-related health hazards to avoid:

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a potentially dangerous drop in body temperature that happens when a person’s body fail to produce sufficient energy to keep the internal body temperature adequately warm. It’s easy to detect hypothermia: the normal body temperature is 37°C – if your core body temperature has fallen below 35°C, you’re suffering from hypothermia.

Hypothermia is mostly caused by cold exposure (even for a short period for older adults or babies without adequate heating). A variety of other causes like diabetes or thyroid conditions, medications, or even drugs and alcohol, are also attributed to a higher risk of hypothermia.

Hypothermia can cause death due to heart failure. Symptoms vary from one person to another but mostly include nausea, increased heart rate, lack of coordination, mental confusion, slowed reactions, shivering, and drowsiness.

Frostbite

Cold, windy weather can cause frostbite damage to exposed skin and its underlying tissues, even down to the bones. Noted that direct & prolonged contact with extreme cold-weather conditions can cause frostbite even on skin covered by gloves or other clothing. The person having frostbite may not realise they have it due to skin numbness.

Frostbite typically affects the fingers, toes, chin, cheeks, nose, and ears. Mild frostbite doesn’t cause permanent skin damage and can be treated easily with first-aid measures. However, in severe cases, frostbite can result in loss of limbs.

High Blood Pressure, Strokes, and Heart Attacks

Seniors with an existing cardiovascular disease or heart problem are particularly at risk in winter. Cold weather and high winds tend to increase a senior’s blood pressure, which is a risk factor for strokes and heart attacks.

The increase in blood pressure due to cold weather condition exposure can last for several hours after being in the cold. This means that a short exposure to cold – like getting up in the middle of the night, for example – can have a lasting impact on a senior’s blood pressure levels for the rest of the day, which is very dangerous as it can lead to a sudden cardiac arrest.

To reduce the risks of heart attacks & strokes in winter, simply remember to keep warm by wearing appropriate clothing. Wearing socks & hat may help a lot as a lot of heat can be lost through your feet and head.

Winter Depression

Depression in the winter is very common in seniors, and can intensify the pain from their existing medical conditions.

Vitamin D can help to relieve winter depression. Encourage your seniors to include foods with Vitamin D such as milk, grains, and seafood like tuna and salmon into their diet to prevent this health risk.

Thanks for reading through this Blog, I hope you have found it useful. If you require any further assistance please feel free to contact the office.

Kind regards,

Suzanne McLoughlin
Owner of Home Instead Senior Care Outer East

P.S. We provide free Care Consultations and resource guides to support and guide families. Download your free copies from our Aged Care Resources page or Request a Free Information Pack to receive a hard copy.