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Alcohol Increases the Risk of Cold Injury

Topic Overview

Drinking alcohol may increase the risk of injury from cold exposure. Alcohol:

Changes your body's ability to regulate body temperature.
Changes your judgment. For example, a person may not put on more clothing when it is needed if his or her judgment is changed by alcohol.
Can cause blood vessels in the skin to get bigger (dilate). This increases heat loss.

Related Information

Cold Temperature Exposure

Credits

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Revised	May 11, 2011

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Last Revised: May 11, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

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