By Sarah Dallins,
Project Weight Loss Editor - Fitness
January 24, 2008Low temperatures may bring problems for people who usually work out outside, as well for those who go to gyms where the heating system is not functioning properly.
Low temperature exposures makes physical activity hard to face or even dangerous for those unprepared. That`s why it`s good to know the main signs and symptoms of exaggerate cold exposure and what can you do in certain situations.
Sign #1: Shaking.
These uncontrollable movements of the body are muscular contractions with the purpose to increase body temperature. When you`re very cold and there`s no place for you to warm up, all you can do is shake. Don`t try to stop this natural response of the body.
Sign #2: Frostbites.
The frostbite is a serious problem and represents superficial tissues frozen in the face, ears, toes, and fingers. The symptoms for frostbite include pains, local insensibility, the sense of burn, and itch. First, the skin becomes white and with a hard consistence, bags with liquid show up, desquamations, and finally the tissue become violet-blue. The first measure in case of frostbite is to go to a warm place, treat the opened wounds, and apply warm compresses. Naturally, you need to reach a hospital as soon as possible.
If the cold exposure continues, after the shakes the lack of coordination, mental confusion, depression, muscle rigidity, mental confusion, depression, and finally unconsciousness may appear. In this case, people need to be taken to the hospital immediately and covered with blankets. Factors like unhealthy diets, dehydration, alcohol consumption, and certain medical conditions may influence the body`s resistance to low temperatures.
The American College of Sports Medicine has a few recommendations for those who work out in cold temperatures:
Tip #1: Wear more clothes because they are warmer and another advantage of multiple layers is that you may either add or dismount clothes in order to adjust your body temperature.
Tip #2: Cover your head while working out in the cold, because you lose an important part of the body`s temperature through head and neck.
Tip #3: Cover your mouth in order to breathe warm air.
Tip #4: Wear only dry clothes. Humid clothes significantly increase the loss of heat.
Tip #5: Choose shoes that absorb perspiration and that help you prevent body-temperature decrease at the feet.
Tip #6: Drink a lot of liquids because dehydration affects the body`s capacity to adjust body temperature and also increases the risk to suffer from frostbites.
Tip #7: Although alcohol seems to give you a sense of warm, it does not last because the alcohol expands blood vessels.
©2008
Project Weight Loss. All rights reserved.
