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
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