I have heard that it’s not uncommon for victims of severe hypothermia to die via heart failure. Is this true and, if so, what causes it? I thought cold exposure deaths come because shallow breathing can’t get enough oxygen to the brain.
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The cold messes with the electrical system of the heart causing a decrease in heart rate ( bradycardia) as well as an increase in blood pressure which causes your heart to work harder. A heart that needs to work harder needs more oxygen. Eventually the slower heart rate combined with the hearts increased need for oxygen and a decreased supply of oxygen from the lungs will result in an arrhythmia such as ventricular fibrillation. V- fib is a disorganized rhythm which prevents the heart from adequately pumping blood to the rest of the body ( a heart in V- fib looks like a bag of worms). No blood flow, no oxygen and you’re dead
Ever try and get a hard on while in frigid waters? It’s not super easy. Think about water, when after cold down it turns to ice because the water molecules come closer together and slow down in movement (I know water gets bigger when it freezes but it’s the same idea of something freezing getting smaller) when the molecules slow down so does production essentially having your heart slow down and contract so it doesnt do its fullest potential of work
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