Predicting a severe cold snap in the national capital and various other parts of northern India, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a rather unusual warning. In an impact-based warning, IMD urged residents of India’s northernmost states to protect yourself from the biting cold by avoiding alcohol.
According to the IMD, severe cold wave conditions are likely to occur in parts of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan starting December 29. The maximum temperature is also forecast to drop 3 to 5 degrees Celsius after December 28.
What did IMD say in its recent impact-based advisory?
In its latest advisory, the IMD said that weather conditions are likely to increase the risk of contracting illnesses like the flu, and could also lead to symptoms such as a runny / stuffy nose and nosebleeds, which usually appear or are aggravated by prolonged exposure. to the cold.
The meteorological department also warned of frostbite, a condition in which the skin becomes pale, hard and numb and eventually black blistered when exposed to extreme cold conditions. “Don’t ignore the chills,” the ad read. “It is the first sign that the body is losing heat. Enters “.
📣 JOIN NOW 📣: The Telegram channel Explained Express
To avoid an adverse reaction to the cold snap, the IMD shared a list of recommendations, one of which was to avoid alcohol as it “lowers body temperature.” The department also urged people to limit outdoor activities, moisturize their skin regularly with oil or cream, eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, and drink warm fluids to maintain immunity.
But is alcohol really bad for you when it’s cold?
An alcoholic drink to combat the cold on a cold winter night may seem like a good idea to many, but IMD and several health experts have warned otherwise. While alcohol can make you feel warmer, it actually lowers your body temperature and compromises your immunity if you later venture out into the cold, experts say.
According to a study conducted jointly by the Division of Thermal Medicine and Physiology of the US Army Environmental Medicine Research Institute, alcohol can lower the core body temperature and increase the risk of hypothermia during cold exposure.
Hypothermia is a serious medical condition in which the body loses heat before it can generate it, resulting in a dangerously low body temperature. While the normal body temperature hovers around 37 degrees Celsius, the body temperature of a person suffering from hypothermia drops below 35 degrees Celsius. Common signs include chills, slow breathing, slurred speech, cold skin, and fatigue.
Excessive alcohol use is often linked to an increased risk of hypothermia and other conditions related to extreme cold weather. The study notes that alcohol has psychological and behavioral effects, which can affect a person’s ability to correctly perceive how cold it is. Therefore, cases of people succumbing to hypothermia after drinking heavily and passing out in the open air are very frequently reported in extremely cold weather locations.
According to the American Association of Family Physicians, a 2004 retrospective study showed that alcohol use is associated with 68 percent of accidental hypothermia cases.
How does alcohol lower body temperature?
Alcohol is a vasodilator, which means that it causes blood vessels to relax and dilate or open. So after consuming alcohol, the volume of blood reaching the surface of the skin increases, making it feel warmer as a result. This is also what makes an intoxicated person appear flushed.
As the body begins to believe that it is hot, it also begins to sweat, a reaction that automatically lowers the overall body temperature. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can affect your body’s ability to properly detect the cold, which is in place to protect you from frostbite and hypothermia.
However, experts say that moderate drinking in temperate environments does not significantly affect the core temperature of the body.
What is a cold snap and what was the IMD forecast?
In its forecast on Friday, the IMD said that minimum temperatures would rise in the plains of northern India, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and northern Rajasthan, until Sunday, before falling to 3 to 5 degrees Celsius. .
According to IMD, cold northwesterly winds blowing from the western Himalayan region would trigger cold or intense cold snap conditions in parts of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh starting Monday.
A cold snap occurs when the minimum temperature drops to 10 degrees Celsius or less and the deviation from normal temperature is 4.5 degrees Celsius or less. In severe cold wave conditions, the deviation from normal temperature is 6.5 degrees or less. Delhi has had five days of cold spells so far this month.
The maximum temperature is also forecast to drop 3 to 5 degrees Celsius after December 28. Rain and snowfall are forecast in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand under the influence of a western disturbance between Sunday and Monday.
.
