Why Cold Weather Is So Dangerous to Aging Bodies

Plus, how to lower your risk for cold-related health hazards

Rachel Nania,

AARP

Comments

En español

Published January 13, 2025

Getty Images

With cold air blanketing many areas of the country, public health experts are urging older adults to take certain precautions. Just like extreme heat poses unique risks for aging individuals, so does extreme cold.

Much of it boils down to age-related changes that make older adults more likely to be affected by the cold, says Liron Sinvani, M.D., director of Geriatric Hospitalist Service at Northwell Health and an associate professor of medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.

For example, people tend to lose muscle as they age — a condition known as sarcopenia — and muscle provides insulation and generates heat, Sinvani says. Older adults are also more likely to have thinner skin, making it easier for heat to escape, and decreased blood flow, due to changes in their blood vessels. “All of these things culminate in a reduced ability to regulate their body heat,” putting them at greater risk for danger in cold weather, Sinvani explains.

What’s more, certain medical conditions that become more common with age can make it harder to stay warm, according to the National Institute on Aging. Diabetes, which affects roughly one-third of adults 65 and older, can prevent blood from flowing normally, which disrupts temperature regulation. Thyroid problems can affect the body’s ability to maintain a normal body temperature, and memory problems can prevent people from taking certain precautions, like wearing warm clothing.

When the body loses more heat than it can sustain, hypothermia can set in. This medical emergency, which occurs when the body’s core temperature drops below 95°F, can lead to serious health issues, like heart failure and organ damage, and can be life-threatening.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warning signs of hypothermia can include:

Shivering
Exhaustion or feeling very tired
Confusion
Fumbling hands
Memory loss
Slurred speech
Drowsiness

Cold weather can trigger, worsen heart and lung issues

It’s not just hypothermia older adults need to worry about. Cold weather can cause or worsen other health problems, too.

Especially in older adults, it can cause blood pressure to increase, “and that can strain the heart and increase risk for catastrophic events,” says Haitham Khraishah, M.D., a preventive cardiologist at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute. The American Heart Association explains that when it’s cold out, our blood vessels constrict to prevent heat from escaping and to keep more blood around the body's core — this is what causes blood pressure to rise.

Extreme cold can also cause the blood to thicken, which can increase the risk of a blood clot, and up the odds of a heart attack or stroke, especially in people who already face higher cardiovascular risks, Khraishah adds.

Researchers have tracked an uptick in heart attacks linked to shoveling snow, in part due to the effects of the cold on the cardiovascular system. Khraishah’s advice: “Do not overexert yourself” when the temperatures dip. “Especially patients with prior heart attacks or existing heart failure, [cold weather] can exacerbate those conditions, so pay attention,” he says.

Another concern: Depression rates go up in the wintertime. “There's much more isolation in January and February for older adults,” says Kenneth Koncilja, M.D., a physician in the Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at Cleveland Clinic, and isolation has been linked to a number of negative health outcomes, including an increased risk of heart disease.

When it comes to the respiratory system, dry, cold air can irritate the airways and worsen chronic conditions like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma, Sinvani says. And it can make people more prone to infections by weakening the immune system, she adds. Results from a 2022 study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggest this is one reason why we see respiratory illnesses — cold, flu, COVID and more — spike in cold-weather months.

Beware of medications and winter weather

Some common medications can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature, and the vast majority of older adults take at least one prescription medication. Examples include certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, narcotic pain medicines and sedatives, according to Mayo Clinic.

A person who takes diuretics is at greater risk for dehydration, and being dehydrated increases the risk of hypothermia, Sinvani says. And medications that can cause drowsiness or affect balance — this could be an over-the-counter cold and flu medication or a prescription blood pressure drug — can prove hazardous in icy or snowy conditions. “It’s a perfect storm for falls,” Sinvani says.

What is frostbite?

According to the CDC, frostbite is a type of injury caused by freezing. It usually affects the extremities (fingers, toes, nose, etc.) and can lead to permanent damage.

Warning signs can include redness or pain in any skin area, followed by:

A white or grayish-yellow skin area
Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
Numbness

Seek medication attention as soon as possible if you notice any of these symptoms.

Prevent cold-related health hazards

How cold is too cold? There’s no universal outdoor temperature that signals you’re in the danger zone, Khraishah says. A lot of it depends on where you live and how your body has adapted. Someone who lives in Maine, for example, may be able to tolerate cold weather better than someone who lives in Arizona, so the thermometer isn’t always a reliable indicator. The key, he says, is to listen to your body and the news.

Opt in for weather alerts in your area, he says, and make sure you dress appropriately. The NIA suggests dressing in warm layers and wearing a hat, scarf and gloves to prevent heat loss through your head and hands.

Koncilja says older adults who exercise regularly throughout the year tend to be more resilient to weather changes. If you live in an area where snow and cold keep you from walking and biking outdoors year-round, take your workout indoors and try mall walking, which is free.

“There are not as many indoor shopping malls as there used to be, but the indoor shopping malls here in Northeast Ohio are real popular places for mall walkers year-round,” he says. “I think it's just really important to challenge yourself; to know what your regular activity is, and try to always be looking for opportunities to increase or improve your physical activity.”

A few other tips: Limit the time you spend outside on cold-weather days, and if your clothes get damp or wet, be sure to change out of them as soon as you can.

Keep your home’s thermostat around 68°F or higher, Sinvani says, and make sure you’re staying hydrated. Wear shoes with good traction on the soles to reduce fall risks, Koncilja says, Also, check in on neighbors and friends to make sure their heat is working. “Let's be good community members and look out for people,” Sinvani says.

%{postComment}%