Alcohol increases the risk of cold injury
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 additional 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.
- Reduces your sense of cold because it depresses the nervous system.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: August 24, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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