Topic Overview
Drinking alcohol may increase the risk of injury from cold
exposure. Alcohol:
- Changes your body's ability to regulate body
temperature.
- Changes your judgment. For example, a person may not
put on more clothing when it is needed if his or her judgment is changed
by alcohol.
- Can cause blood vessels in the skin to get
bigger (dilate). This increases heat loss.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
|---|
| Last Revised | May 11, 2011 |
|---|