Winter Weather Poses Possible Health Hazards

Despite the late start, winter weather has finally arrived and is making itself known with .

"Hypothermia and frostbite, in general, are something to think about in this type of weather," said Tedmond O'Reilly, a family practice doctor at the clinic in Port Washington.

Frostbite is a cold induced injury that can destroy skin tissue by killing cells in the body part it effects.

"Frostbite can set in within minutes ... especially on days with sub zero wind chills," O'Reilly said.

He recommends a few things to watch out for and do when heading outside. First, keep your eye on what the temperature is, along with the windchill, because that will increase the possible impact for frostbite.

When temperatures are low, it can only take a few moments for frostbite to hit areas like your ears, nose, chin, cheeks and fingers. O'Reilly stressed it's important to cover up and protect those extremities, especially when the wind is strong.

A warning sign of first-degree frostbite is if you see skin go from a pinkish, red color to a blanched, white color, he said.

"Mild or first-degree frostbite can happen within minutes, that's why it's so important to cover up those key areas," he said.

How to Spot Hypothermia

Hypothermia is when your body's core temperature drops below a certain point. A healthy core temperature is 98.6 degrees fahrenheit; mild hypothermia is considered to be between 95 and 90 degrees and less than 82 degrees is severe.

Shivering is a very early warning sign of hypothermia — it's the body's way of warming itself up. A major red flag is when a person starts to act very confused and almost seems to be intoxicated.

"If their speech becomes a little slurred or they become clumsy, that's a real sign they need to get inside and warmed up as soon as possible," O'Reilly said.

Consuming alcohol can be an increased risk factor for hypothermia. Some medications can also predispose people to hypothermia. You should speak with your doctor about any medication you are on.

Young children and elderly people are most at risk for hypothermia. Make sure they are wearing the proper winter gear when they go outside and do not stay in the elements for very long.

Safety and Shoveling

Removing snow from a sidewalk or driveway can be a big task and should be considered an exercise that takes getting used to, O'Reilly said.

"We highly recommend stretching out before you go out to shovel," he said. "You'll want to start out doing a little bit at a time and take plenty of breaks and stay well hydrated."

"Another impact is moisture. So, when you're out at the end of the driveway working on the snow, you'll sweat quite a bit," O'Reilly explained. "Wear multiple layers and make sure the layer on your body soaks up sweat, so the water isn't on your skin. Get wet clothes off right away when you go inside."

Anyone with diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol should took extra cautions — if they have any signs of chest pains they should stop right away and get checked out by a doctor.

It's okay to enjoy the season, O'Reilly said, as long as you keep an eye out for the warning signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

"There's a lot of good, protective clothing out there today that allows us to dress safe and enjoy living in this state and the winter weather," he said, "but you have to be smart about it."