About Cold Weather Related Illness

If cold exposure exceeds the body’s ability to warm and core body temperature falls, a range of cold-related symptoms and conditions can develop.  The most common cold-related illness is hypothermia. Cold-related symptoms range from shivering to fatigue.  These symptoms are important warning signs as cold stress can lead to harmful endpoints like disorientation, unconsciousness or death.  Frostbite occurs when a part of body freezes causing loss of feeling.  Frostbite most often affects the nose, ears, checks, chin, fingers or toes.  Tissue damage from frostbite can be permanent.