Which symptom would you expect to see in a patient with severe hypothermia?

In a patient with severe hypothermia, one of the hallmark symptoms is irrational behavior. As the body temperature drops significantly, physiological changes occur in the brain and central nervous system, leading to altered mental status. This can manifest as confusion, disorientation, and irrationality. The brain's functioning is compromised due to the cold, affecting judgment and cognitive abilities, which may result in bizarre or uncontrolled behavior.

In contrast, an increased heart rate is typically associated with mild to moderate hypothermia as the body initially attempts to preserve heat. As hypothermia progresses to a severe level, the heart rate may actually decrease, leading to bradycardia. Shortness of breath is not a direct symptom of hypothermia but may arise from other concurrent conditions or efforts to exert oneself in a cold environment. Excessive sweating is also not characteristic of hypothermia; rather, as body temperature drops, sweating would decrease as the body attempts to conserve heat.