With the onset of bitterly cold weather comes the possibility of frostbite. Frostbite occurs when exposed body tissue freezes. Oxygen levels drop, and the tissue begins to die. While we may tend to think that children are most at risk, it is actually in adults between 30 and 49 when the condition is most common, according to WebMD.
Your body is so well adapted to avoid harmful conditions and avoiding frostbite is no exception. Your body warns you of danger with burning and a tingling sensation. As conditions persist, numbness occurs until all feeling is lost. You may think it uncommon, however, recall how many times you’ve felt an itching sensation after coming back indoors. The itching is symptom of superficial frostbite, the second of the three stages.
Ironically, as you recover from the loss of sensation, it is replaced by pain. The pain can linger for days or even weeks, a painful reminder to button up and wear those boots.
Be care this winter. Forget fashion. Think practical. Always wear a hat and gloves when outside during the cold winter days.
