Medical

paradoxical undressing

Also found in: Wikipedia.

paradoxical undressing

A phenomenon seen in up to 50% of hypothermia-induced deaths that occur on land, in which the deceased’s body is found either partially or complete undressed. The undressing has been attributed to paralysis of the vasomotor centre, which imparts a sensation of increased body temperature and thus a desire to remove clothing.
Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in periodicals archive
There is anecdotal evidence that people in the final stages of hypothermia engage in something called paradoxical undressing because, as they lose rationality and their nerves are damaged, they feel incredibly, irrationally hot.
Dr Kolar said the dead man had suffered from hypothermia, which had led to "paradoxical undressing" as he would have had the sensation of feeling intensely warm.
This is surely down to singer Kristin Hersh, a kooky heart-throb for winsome indie boys who has been more well-known recently for Paradoxical Undressing, a solo show featuring versions of her own songs and spoken word extracts from her autobiography.
If they experience "paradoxical undressing" in cold weather (when core body temperature falls to a critical level peripheral vasoconstriction fails; the resulting sudden vasodilation could lead to an exaggerated sensation of heat and a consequent attempt by the victim to undress), hypothermia can occur in 30 minutes.
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.