SheSue Experience

We were all brought up being told to put a hat on when it’s cold outside because we lose most of our body heat through our head.  Now that it’s starting to get cold in the morning, I automatically reach for my hat to “keep warm”.  But like a lot of other myths passed down through the ages, this is also just a myth.

To reinforce the myth, the military did studies on hypothermia.  They dressed men in arctic survival suits and exposed them to frigid temperatures.   Sure enough, all the men were freezing within a few minutes.  Since they had no hat on, it was determined that they lost body heat through their head.  Now come on, think about it.  They had no hat on, duh!

In reality you lose no more heat through your head than any other part of your body.  If you covered all your body except one arm, you would be just as cold as if you had no hat on.  In fact you would lose more body heat with your arm exposed because there’s more surface area exposed.  It is through any surface area that you lose body heat.

Added fact: why do you shiver?  This is one of the body’s natural reactions to cold.  Shivering takes energy which in turn generates heat.

So should you leave the hat at home when it’s cold outside?  No way, but don’t forget the coat and gloves as well.