why does falling into freezing water cause shock?

Answer 1

a few reasons - the cold water has a strong effect on peripheral blood vessels. on a very cold day walking outside it is remarked that some ppl have very rosy cheeks, this is because the blood vessels close to the surface of a persons face divert blood flow. this diversion is so quick that some blood is trapped - hence rosy cheeks.

when this happens over all of the skin, the body diverts blood flow away from these areas to maintain core temperature. basically your skin is a radiator with very accurate and precise controls.

this diversion causes ALL the blood to circulate in the core of the body, there is a huge increase in blood pressure as the body attempts to maintain body temp. a combination of extreme cold causing organ dysfunction due to impaired cellular processes. the the body goes into shock from the huge pressure on the body's organs - the brain, heart, lungs and kidneys are all subjected too much higher pressures then normal.

eventually the body succumbs to the cold and its attempts to survive cannot continue. shock happens before this time.

also because of this blood diversion that ppl in hypothermic shock shouldn't be warmed too quickly. receptors detect heat and blood rushes back to the outer areas of the body - while this is warmer then before and the outer areas do need the blood the average temperature drops too far. (if done incorrectly) below a certain temperature (not sure exactly) the heart is unable to conduct electrical signals and thus stops.

Answer 2

A lot of the enzymes in the body (and consequently a lot of the body functions) function at 98F, so dropping into freezing water causes most of them to slow down since they're not working at optimum temp. In order to maintain the function of the important parts of the body (the brain, heart and lungs), your body starts shunting blood away from the extremities, and eventually the abdominal organs, towards the core (the chest and the head) in order to maintain optimum temperature there. Prolonged stay in cold water means that the external temp is still colder than internal, the body can't keep producing heat to compenstate for the cold due to decreased function and overwhelming difference in temperature. Eventually, following the laws of physics (heat transfer, from a hotter to a colder region, or more energy to less energy) even the core of the body cools down, leading to shutdown of the body.

Answer 3

Because your body works at a temperature of 98 degrees. If you jump into freezing water, your body will start to shut down because it makes the blood flow more slowly. (I.E. Hypothermia) The colder you get the more lethargic you get and you get that feeling like you want to go to sleep but essentially your body will freeze and stop working.

Answer 4

It is a thermal shock. Body's nervous system gets shocked because of the sudden change in temperature.

Answer 5

it may desire to be that what we observed on the top of the movie isn't in all probability what took place yet purely what Watson observed. interior the Sherlock Holmes television sequence starring Jeremy Brett there replaced into an exceedingly comparable scene. Holmes and Moriarti went over the falls and the two probably died, yet that replaced into purely by using Watson's eyes, purely Moriarti went over in reality. the different threat is that Holmes fell into the water at an perspective that doesn't destroy his back and he replaced into in a position to respire making use of Microft's gadget and swim to shore.

Answer 6

the bodys core temperature drops to fast -the brain shuts down periferal limbs, to protect the major organs -the brain is trying to protect itself as well

Answer 7

it causes the blood flow to slow down