Temperature tolerance and comfort in winter depend on the ambient temperature, humidity and wind speed. It is no coincidence that weather forecasts today list the actual temperature, for example -2°С, and a second one – the «feels like» temperature, which can differ by 5-10°С. It is precisely the «feels like» temperature that affects how we perceive cold, how quickly we freeze and the risk of suffering a cold injury.
We feel cold differently in different seasons
Every season has its own ranges of temperature, humidity and wind. Our perception – whether we feel chilled or sweaty – depends on this. Think of summer – in the heat, when it rains, everything is instantly cooled and refreshed.
This is because moisture in the air absorbs excess heat from the surface of objects and people's skin extremely well. If we have just climbed out of a cool lake, then at the slightest gust of wind, even in hot weather, we feel a chill. A damp environment draws heat away from the body far more quickly.
The situation is similar in the cold season – high air humidity causes the body to cool down and lose heat faster. We get cold much more quickly. The face, ears, hands and feet suffer especially badly from rapid cooling. While the face and hands are exposed and in direct contact with the air, the feet usually sweat inside footwear, the socks and the boots themselves become damp – and in a moist environment heat is drawn away from the body faster.How cold and weather swings really affect your health: an immunologist explains
What to do if you are freezing
If you have to leave home in cold and damp weather, you should dress more warmly, going by how it feels rather than by the thermometer reading. It is worth taking gloves or mittens with you, even if it is around zero or slightly above outside. Wind, precipitation and fog cool the body more strongly than even -10°С frost in calm weather under a clear sky.
You should not leave home without a hat or a warm hood. Under a jacket or coat it is better to wear a thin cotton T-shirt, a turtleneck and a denser sweater. That way the body will give off heat less easily, keeping it close to itself.
In the cold you need to keep moving
An additional factor in freezing in cold weather is the spasm of peripheral blood vessels. This is how the body tries to reduce heat loss in the extremities and skin, keeping the internal organs warm. The feet and hands can turn pale in the cold, because less warm blood reaches the subcutaneous capillaries. To boost circulation you can rub your palms together, stamp your feet, and move more actively. Any activity increases heat production and stimulates circulation. Actively working muscles need blood, the capillaries dilate, and heat flows to the tissues.
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Why is freezing in damp air dangerous?
If you are getting cold and the surrounding air is damp, the risk of frostbite is higher. Cold receptors send information to the brain that the tissues are freezing, but their sensitivity begins to decline with prolonged cooling. As a result, a long stay in damp, frosty air can lead to a sensation of tingling, numbness, and a sharp paling of the fingers, the tip of the nose and the earlobes. If measures are not taken in time and circulation is not boosted, the tissues can be damaged by the cold – and frostbite sets in.
In strong wind, the onset of these effects is accelerated. Sometimes just a few hours are enough for tissue to be quite badly damaged. At 80% humidity and with wind, you can get frostbite even at a slight sub-zero temperature, and even at zero degrees.
