Excessive exposure to cold can lead to what condition?

• A. Frostbite
• B. Hyperthermia
• C. Heat exhaustion
• D. Dehydration

Answer: (A)

Excessive exposure to cold can lead to frostbite, which is a medical condition that results when skin and other tissues freeze due to prolonged exposure to low temperatures. This condition commonly affects extremities such as fingers, toes, the nose, and ears, where blood flow is more likely to decrease and where body heat can be lost more quickly. Symptoms of frostbite include numbness, tingling, and a cold or hard feeling in the affected areas. In severe cases, frostbite can lead to blisters, tissue death, and loss of limbs if not treated promptly.

In contrast, the other options relate to conditions caused by heat or dehydration rather than cold exposure. Hyperthermia refers to an excessive body temperature due to heat stress, heat exhaustion is a form of heat-related illness triggered by prolonged exposure to high temperatures, and dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in, often related to hot conditions. Therefore, frostbite is uniquely associated with the dangers of extreme cold exposure, making it the correct answer in this context.