Amongst the numerous stressors, extreme cold conditions affect the human body more. The human psychological and physiological functions are drastically affected by adverse weather conditions such as exposure to cold. While many research has been dedicated to exploring the implications of heat on the psychology of a person, the effects of exposure to the cold have been neglected. Extreme low temperatures do cause not only deterioration in morale but also reduces the performance of the brain. Therefore, people are encouraged to avoid the cold to prevent the inhibition of psychological functions of the body which demands adequate attention to the matter. The brain, like all other significant parts of the body, relies on optimal temperature for it to function effectively. The psychiatric effects of prolonged exposure to the cold are thus, irreparable and in extreme cases could to death.
According to the American Sociological Association, Code of Ethics for Sociological Research principle C of professional and scientific responsibility mandates that sociologists should adhere to standards set for their work. Exposing the patient to the cold goes against the integrity code of ethics which requires practitioners to be respectful to the life of their patients. The psychological reaction of an individual to extremely low temperatures is dependent on four factors namely; the environment in which the individual is placed, the genetic composition, experience, and the conducts and perception of the person. The means in which the four variables interact with each other determine the way the brain responds to extreme cold as stimuli.
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The impact of the cold may further worsen due to the presence of wet and windy conditions and high altitude (Kiernan, 2001). Critics have, however, protested the role of genetics terming it as a controversial factor. Exposure to cold conditions causes the body temperature to will lead to the gradual inhibition of the brain’s performance which after some time may exacerbate (Muller et al., 2012). Hence, when the body temperature goes below 37°C which is the average body temperature, it can be asserted that the person is experiencing hypothermia which is a fatal condition.
The deep cooling of the body causes a consequent decrease in the level of consciousness and alertness especially when the body temperature goes below 30°C — the behavior of individual changes due to the distorted psychological wee being. In most common cases, the person may become extremely sluggish concerning reflexes and the general mobility of the body. The person is usually slow and drowsy and also lacks accuracy in their vision and speech (Muller et al., 2012). Thus, an individual with hypothermia may appear confused and incoherent. The muscles become less flexible with time, and after a given amount of time, the person becomes rigid. The voluntary movements of the body become slower with every passing second. For instance, a simple activity such as touching one’s nose which may typically take at most one second may last for about 15 to 30 seconds.
In the case of hypothermia, the arterial blood capillaries responsible for transporting oxygenated blood to the brain will transmit cold blood which will cool the brain. The result of the previous assertion is the reduction in the cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen. As the body temperature goes below 20°C, the initial excitation of neuronal conditions also decreases. At 10°C, the brain stops all functions and becomes non-functional (Muller et al., 2012). At this state, the person may die from a cardiac arrest as the muscles of the heart stop pumping blood to other parts of the body.
The exposure of the body to the cold has dire effects on both the body and the brain. Under extreme cold temperatures, the psychological functions become slower. Every individual reacts to the cold differently depending on their environment, genes, experience, and behavior. The implications of the cold become visible after the body temperature falls below 37°C. The arterial capillaries are responsible for transporting oxygenated blood to the brain transport cold blood which consequently lowers its temperature. When the temperature falls below 10°C, the brain stops functioning leading to the death of the individual. The cold has irreparable effects on the psychological wellbeing of an individual which may cause death in adverse conditions.
References
Kiernan, M. C. (2001). Effects of temperature on the excitability properties of human motor axons. Brain , 124 (4), 816-825. doi:10.1093/brain/124.4.816
Muller, M. D., Gunstad, J., Alosco, M. L., Miller, L. A., Updegraff, J., Spitznagel, M. B., & L. Glickman, E. (2012). Acute cold exposure and cognitive function: evidence for sustained impairment. Ergonomics , 55 (7), 792-798. doi:10.1080/00140139.2012.665497
