Frostbite
Alternate Names : Frozen Fingers, Toes, OR Nose, COLD-Induced Injury
Frostbite occurs when exposure to cold temperatures damages the skin or other tissues.
What are the causes and risks of the injury?
Anyone who is exposed to extreme cold for a significant length of time has a risk of developing frostbite. Windy weather may contribute to frostbite, too, by blowing body heat away from the body.
Frostbite occurs more often among:
those who work outside in extremely cold areas
mountain climbers
people who are caught in the elements without proper clothing
people taking certain medications, such as beta-blockers, that decrease the blood flow to the skin
smokers
people who have blocked arteries, atherosclerosis or other problems that affect blood circulation
people with diabetes
people with nerve problems that decrease their ability to feel injuries in certain parts of the body, a condition called neuropathy
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