Various. Based on its mechanism, hypothermia is usually classified as:
-Primary (typically due to accidental exposure)
-Secondary (due instead to failure of thermoregulation)
Depending on its setting, the most common cause of hypothermia is overwhelming sepsis or
environmental exposure. Other major causes include cerebrovascular accidents (anorexia nervosa, multiple
sclerosis, stroke, coma of any cause, spinal cord injury), low cardiac output following acute myocardial
infarction, endocrine disorders (hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, panhypopituitarism, adrenal
insufficiency), and intoxication (drugs and alcohol). Note that patients who appear hypothermic to touch are
often simply peripherally vasoconstricted.
-Primary (typically due to accidental exposure)
-Secondary (due instead to failure of thermoregulation)
Depending on its setting, the most common cause of hypothermia is overwhelming sepsis or
environmental exposure. Other major causes include cerebrovascular accidents (anorexia nervosa, multiple
sclerosis, stroke, coma of any cause, spinal cord injury), low cardiac output following acute myocardial
infarction, endocrine disorders (hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, panhypopituitarism, adrenal
insufficiency), and intoxication (drugs and alcohol). Note that patients who appear hypothermic to touch are
often simply peripherally vasoconstricted.