Excess alcohol consumption on very cold days might make you feel warmer, but you might want to reconsider before you drink to fight off the cold, as it can actually be very dangerous in extremely cold weather. The truth is that alcohol can kill in freezing temperatures, causing your body temperature to plummet while making you think you are okay.
One of the main reasons alcohol is dangerous in freezing temperatures is that it is a vasodilator. This means peripheral blood vessels and capillaries open and widen with alcohol consumption. Because of this, blood volume increases directly under the skin, which causes the sensation of feeling warmer. However, when this occurs, blood vessel constriction is prevented. That constriction is what helps keep your natural body heat regulated and your organs warm.
You might feel warmer from extra blood flowing under your skin. However, that blood actually gets cold faster in winter conditions. What will actually occur is a fast drop in body temperature, although your skin might still feel warm. That’s what makes it dangerous to consume alcohol in freezing temperatures.
Alcohol in Freezing Temperatures: Potential Risk
An example of illness, injury, or death resulting from the combination of alcohol and cold weather is typified by the person who decides to walk home after a night of drinking rather than getting a ride. Many people make this decision thinking that they will be warm enough by virtue of walking. However, impaired judgement and sensitivity can lead to a quick onset of hypothermia. If the distance is further than anticipated or they wind up getting lost, the risk of hypothermia increases dramatically, to say nothing of the chance of suffering a fall and possibly blacking out.
Consumption of alcohol in freezing temperatures also inhibits shivering. Shivering is a natural mechanism of the body that keeps us warm. It is a warning sign as well, as shivering occurs during the early stages of hypothermia. Shivering results in increased skeletal muscle activity. Here, muscles expand and contract very rapidly and the skin tightens, causing goosebumps to appear. Even the mandibles expand and contract rapidly, which is why our teeth chatter when we shiver. Although it is involuntary, all of that increased muscle activity actually generates heat in the body’s core. If alcohol inhibits these involuntary mechanisms, the consequences can be dire.
That is not to say that alcoholic beverages cannot be enjoyed during the winter season. However, it is vital to limit especially when spending extended periods of time outdoors in cold weather. You don’t want to find out the hard way how alcohol can kill in freezing temperatures!
Featured Image from Julius Jansson/Unsplash
