How does Cold Shock Response differ fundamentally from Hypothermia?
Answer
CSR is a nervous system and circulatory event lasting minutes, while hypothermia is systemic core temperature drop
It is a common and dangerous error to confuse Cold Shock Response (CSR) with hypothermia, as they are distinct processes operating on different timescales and affecting different body systems initially. CSR is an acute, reflexive reaction involving the nervous system and circulatory changes (heart rate, blood pressure, respiration) that peaks and subsides within a few minutes. Hypothermia, conversely, is a slower, systemic process defined by the gradual and dangerous drop in the body's core temperature, which takes a significantly longer duration to become fatally established.
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