After several weeks with fairly mild weather for the time of year we find ourselves in, it seems that the thermometers are going to receive the month of December with a general drop in temperatures throughout the country. So you might as well ditch the ankle-length pants and sneakers for a while if you don't want to be left as an ice floe when the mercury can't rise above ten degrees. Bundle up, but do it right. «Actually, nowadays whoever wants to is cold. There are countless fantastic and very cheap fabrics on the market that conserve body heat phenomenally without having to go like an onion. Another thing is that for fashion or aesthetics you want to be cold, "says the neurosurgeon and freezing specialist at the MAZ clinic in Zaragoza, Ricardo Arregui.
If what really matters to you is not freezing as soon as you set foot outside, then follow the experts' advice on how to bundle up properly and you'll notice the difference. The doubts are many: Is it better to wear many layers or wear fewer clothes and invest in a good coat? Where does the heat 'escape' the most? Why are some people colder than others? Down jacket or windbreaker? Let's go by parts. First of all, it is important to know that our body is designed to conserve blood flow in the trunk area, which is where we have our vital organs (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys...). “That is why when the temperature drops, the first things that get cold are the furthest parts of the trunk, such as the hands, feet or head. The body focuses on protecting and maintaining the vital organs at the right temperature and let's say that it 'forgets' the less important areas for our own survival," explains dermatologist Pedro Rodríguez, member of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology ( AEDV).
That is why it is very important to cover well those 'forgotten' parts. A hat, gloves, socks and good footwear are essential to keep the body in shape. «Our capacity to lose heat is always going to be proportional to the area that we have exposed. That is to say, no matter how much we wrap ourselves up with a down jacket, if we take our ankles to the air we will get cold, "says Rodríguez, dermatologist at the International Dermatological Clinic (Madrid).
And the closer that exposed area is to the trunk, the more heat we will lose. Hence, if instead of the ankles what we have in the air is the back or the neck, the sensation of cold will be even greater. "These are areas that do not have the adaptation mechanisms of the feet or hands," adds the specialist.
One of the keys to not being cold is precisely to keep the trunk well covered. "A good thermal shirt is essential to conserve our body heat," advises Arregui. Look at how soccer players dress on very cold days. Most wear a technical shirt under their kit. Some even wear tights to keep their thighs cool. They are very comfortable garments that also expel sweat. Of course, always well tucked inside so that air does not enter anywhere.
Both experts are enemies of dressing in many garments, one on top of the other. "It's awkward and impractical. It is best to wear a first technical layer, a sweater over it and a good coat. Nothing else is needed, ”both specialists agree. The choice of outer garment will basically depend on the area where we live. In other words, if we live in a place where it usually rains, we should opt for a more technical coat that, in addition to keeping us warm, protects us from the rain. However, if we live in the interior, where the cold is drier and the temperatures are lower, a down jacket can be a good option. In any case, it is recommended that they have a three-quarter length and be able to be a hood.
Thermal sensation
In fact, the sensation of cold increases for two reasons; wind and humidity, so we must be prepared to protect ourselves from both elements. This is what experts call thermal sensation or 'wind chill'. «There are days when the thermometer on the street can show 4 degrees, but our body feels it as two below zero due to the effect of the wind. Something similar happens with rain. Having wet feet on a cold day is the most unpleasant thing, that's why we must know how to wrap up well," adds Arregui.
But why are some people colder than others? “The ability to retain heat depends on the number of blood vessels we have. In the same way that there are families with a tendency to varicose veins, the less vascularization they have, the colder they will be, ”says Pedro Rodríguez.
Ricardo Arregui, neurosurgeon and freezing specialist.
“I have been colder in Zaragoza than on Everest”
For the more than 700 mountaineers who have passed through the MAZ clinic in Zaragoza in recent years, the renowned neurosurgeon Ricardo Arregui is simply 'Kiko' Arregui, the doctor from 'The Edge of the Impossible' who has treated them frostbite suffered on feet and hands due to the rigors of low temperatures.
-The Himalayas, the North Pole... You really know what it's like to be cold.
-Actually, where I have been coldest in my life is in Zaragaza. I've been in this city for over forty years and the only thing I haven't acclimatized to is the Moncayo wind. I remember going to college thinking about which streets I had to take so that the wind wouldn't hit me. When I went to the North Pole I was wearing boots and socks designed to withstand -100 degrees and I was not cold. Now, when you went outside and breathed the air at minus 30 degrees, everything hurt.
– What clothes should be invested in to avoid being cold?
-Right now you don't need to spend a lot of money to go warm. Another thing is the high mountains. In that case, I always tell them the same thing: invest in good gloves and good boots. It's fundamental.
– With the hotel industry closed in many communities and mobility restrictions, going to the mountains is one of the star plans of the weekend for many people.
-You have to be careful with this kind of excursions. Many people think that hiking is putting on some sneakers and walking, and no. You have to go well prepared and more so at this time of year because the weather is very changeable. You can leave the house in the sun and when you reach the top a wind picks up that takes away even your ideas. Look at your mobile and dress according to the weather forecasts.
