Are you experiencing cold stress? Here are the symptoms and stages

The weather has a huge impact on our mental health and cold stress is one of the examples. The onset of the winter season brings with it more than just bone-chilling temperatures. Cold stress can lead to multiple mental health-related concerns over time. Bringing with it, a plethora of symptoms that require our timely intervention.

Cold stress is the result of our body failing to retain heat faster than it can generate it which leads to a sudden decrease in the core temperature. While keeping aside the icy fingers and shivers, this occurrence has a significant impact on our mental and physical health.

While some of us may not be able to relate to this condition, a lot of us staying in colder regions are likely to experience this specific type of stress.

Cold stress can significant impact on your well-being. (Image via Unsplash/ Spurwing Agency)

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What are the symptoms of cold stress?

How do you feel about cold? (Image via Freepik/ Master1305)

In severe conditions, the body's core temperature starts declining. This further leads to symptoms such as chills, extreme levels of shivering, and noticeable tiredness. Cold stress can also lead to symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.

Next, challenges in paying attention, recurring mood alterations, and social isolation can follow. Sleep cycle dyfunctions along with body numbness parts also demonstrates the body's inability to handle the cold.

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The six stages of cold stress illness

Stress in itself may not be fatal, but it can lead to severe conditions. (Image via Freepik/ wayhomestudio)

Often any form of illness progresses in stages. Cold stress can slowly progress into dangerous conditions like hypothermia. Here are six stages that you may become prone to:

1. Mild Hypothermia: The earliest signs consist of confusion, shivering, and a suddenn decline in core temperature of the body.
2. Moderate Hypothermia: Shivering turns extreme, coordination becomes another thing to tackle, and our cognitive processes takes a further hit.
3. Severe hypothermia: While shivering comes to a standstill, confusion deepens, and the sufferer may display completely irrational behavior.
4. Cardiac and respiratory failure: As soon as the sufferer reaches this stage, severe damage can be observed in the heart and respiratory systems, which leads to cognitive decline.
5. Loss of consciousness: At this stage, the brain finds it extremely hard to retain consciousness due to the harsh cold conditions.
6. Death: Without timely intervention, extreme levels of cold stress can be life-threatening.

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Coping strategies for your mental well-being

Fortunately you can cope with stress. (Image via Freepik/ Arthur Hidden)

The first thing to remember is to always layer up in order to stay warm. Layering clothes greatly assists in retaining the core body temperature and leads to mental well-being. Keeping active by involving in physical tasks, help in better blood circulation and better retains warmth.

You may be fit and active, but never undermine the power of social connections, for they help greatly in battling social isolation and empowers us to be better connected with dear ones.

Meditation instills a sense of calm and relaxation. Practice the art and science of yoga to generate heat in the system. The outer sun may not be visible, but very shy away to reach the inner sun through the practice of yogic postures. You can also opt for light therapy to ease your symptoms.

It is widely said, 'you are what you eat'. This is true for the body as well as the mind. In winter months, you may not feel like putting the extra effort to cook yourself. Remember, what you are missing out on, the flavours of freshly cooked delicacies get further amplified especially in the cold.

Amidst the cold nights, let's not overlook the mental health consequences stress may present us. So, the next time you spot cold stress symptoms, put the coping trategies to good use and find your way through the grip of the chilly weather.

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