As you'd expect, cases of frostbite in England often rise during particularly cold winters. For example, during the very cold winter of , there were hospital admissions for frostbite. In most years, there are around 30 to 60 cases every winter. Most of the time frostbite can be prevented by taking precautions during cold weather.
Avoid unnecessary exposure to cold temperatures. The combination of wind and cold temperatures wind chill can also cause a rapid drop in temperature, so avoid going out when it's cold and windy, if possible. It's also important to know what the early symptoms of frostbite are, particularly the tingling sensation of frostnip. You should also try to keep dry and remove any wet clothing as soon as you can. If you're travelling during cold weather, plan for emergencies.
For example, if you're driving in icy conditions, make sure you keep a warm blanket and some spare clothes in the boot of your car in case you break down. If you're travelling by foot, always let others know where you're going and what time you'll be back. Take a fully charged mobile phone with you so you can call for help if you have an accident, such as a fall. Be careful when drinking alcohol during very cold weather.
Drinking too much increases your risk of falling asleep in the cold, a common cause of frostbite. Alcohol also causes you to lose heat at a faster rate. Smoking also makes you more vulnerable to the effects of the cold because nicotine can narrow your blood vessels.
If some of your tissue dies, the dead tissue will no longer have a blood supply. This can make the affected body part very vulnerable to infection because your body relies on white blood cells to ward off infections. People with frostbite are at risk of bacterial wound infections, such as tetanus.
More seriously, this infection can spread into the blood sepsis , which requires treatment with antibiotics. Both conditions require hospital admission. After these early signs of frostbite, prolonged exposure to cold temperatures will cause more tissue damage. The affected area will feel hard and frozen. When you're out of the cold and the tissue has thawed out, the skin will turn red and blister , which can be painful.
There may also be swelling and itching. This is known as superficial frostbite, as it affects the top layers of skin and tissue.
The skin underneath the blisters is usually still intact, but treatment is needed to make sure there's no lasting damage. When exposure to the cold continues, frostbite gets increasingly severe.
The skin becomes white, blue or blotchy, and the tissue underneath feels hard and cold to touch. There are different degrees of frostbite.
In superficial frostbite , the skin can recover fully with prompt treatment. However, if frostbite is deep , tissue damage can be permanent and tissue loss can occur. The most important way of preventing frostbite is to get out of the cold.
If you are exposed to the cold make sure that you have adequate protective clothing. Frostbite is an injury that is caused by exposure of parts of your body to temperatures below freezing point. The cold causes freezing of your skin and underlying tissues.
The fingers, toes and feet are most commonly affected but other extremities, including the nose, ears and cheeks, can also develop frostbite. In the past, frostbite injuries were common in military personnel. However, with the increase in technology and accessibility, recreational sports have become a significant cause of frostbite cases. Homeless people, children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to frostbite. Risk factors include lack of clothing, alcohol consumption, and access to shelter.
Dehydration, high altitudes and other conditions that have low oxygen levels are also a risk. These include diabetes , peripheral arterial disease and Raynaud's disease. Usually your blood carries oxygen to all parts of your body so that your body tissues are kept healthy. As a protective response, when your body is exposed to extreme cold, blood vessels narrow constrict so that blood and oxygen are diverted away from your extremities to your vital organs to keep your body alive.
After some time, this lack of blood supply and oxygen to the skin can start to cause damage to the cells. In areas of the body affected by frostbite, ice crystals form and cells and blood vessels become damaged.
Blood clots can also form in small blood vessels which further reduces the chance of blood and oxygen getting to the affected tissues. The chance of frostbite is increased the longer that you are exposed to the cold temperatures. If the cold temperatures are accompanied by wind producing wind chill which brings the temperature down further or high altitude there is a greater risk.
Generally, frostbite is worst in lower temperatures. However, it can affect anyone who is exposed to low temperatures below freezing - in particular, those who wear inadequate clothing. If you have underlying health problems such as narrowing of the arteries, mainly occurring in the legs peripheral arterial disease or diabetes, you have an increased risk of developing frostbite.
If you take certain medicines that narrow constrict your blood vessels, your risk is increased. Beta-blockers are a good example of this. You are more at risk of developing frostbite if you smoke, as the chemicals in cigarettes can cause your blood vessels to constrict. You are more at risk of developing frostbite if you have had alcohol or recreational drugs which make you drowsy or behave differently to usual.
This is because you may be less aware of how cold you are and less aware that you are in danger. You are then less likely to get out of the cold, or protect yourself from it. People who have Raynaud's phenomenon a condition where the small blood vessels of the fingers constrict also have an increased risk of developing frostbite. Give yourself a check-up with a general blood profile, now available in Patient Access.
Frostbite injuries are classified by the degree of injury. The degree of frostbite basically refers to how deep the frostbite goes. Your skin has two layers - the outer layer epidermis and the dermis. The dermis sits just under the epidermis. Beneath the dermis is a layer of fat, and then the deeper structures such as muscles and tendons. Frostbite can be described using these four levels but it may simply be described as superficial frostbite or deep frostbite.
Superficial frostbite corresponds to first-degree or second-degree frostbite. Deep frostbite corresponds to third-degree or fourth-degree frostbite. These are important because superficial frostbite means there is likely to be very little or no tissue loss. Deep frostbite suggests there will be greater tissue loss.
Frostbite can cause feelings of cold and firmness in the affected area, such as the fingers or toes. Stinging, burning and numbness can also occur. You may experience pain, throbbing, burning or an electric current-like sensation when the affected area is re-warmed.
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