Which of the following is NOT a symptom of early hypothermia?

Which of the following is NOT a symptom of early hypothermia?

• A. Shivering
• B. Tachycardia
• C. Tachypnea
• D. Hypotension

Answer: (D)

Early hypothermia triggers the body’s initial heat-preserving and heat-generating responses. Shivering is the primary mechanism to produce heat, and the sympathetic nervous system drives tachycardia and tachypnea to meet increased metabolic demand and oxygen delivery for warmth. At this stage the body constricts peripheral vessels to conserve heat, which helps maintain or even raise blood pressure rather than cause it to drop. Hypotension, on the other hand, tends to appear later as cooling progresses and cardiac function and perfusion become impaired. So, hypotension is not an early sign of hypothermia; its presence usually indicates progression to a more severe stage.

Early hypothermia triggers the body’s initial heat-preserving and heat-generating responses. Shivering is the primary mechanism to produce heat, and the sympathetic nervous system drives tachycardia and tachypnea to meet increased metabolic demand and oxygen delivery for warmth. At this stage the body constricts peripheral vessels to conserve heat, which helps maintain or even raise blood pressure rather than cause it to drop. Hypotension, on the other hand, tends to appear later as cooling progresses and cardiac function and perfusion become impaired. So, hypotension is not an early sign of hypothermia; its presence usually indicates progression to a more severe stage.