Why does hypothermia cause an increase heart rate?

When the body is dealing with hypothermia (too cold) the body attempts to keep the important areas of your body (such as the internal organs, chest, abdomen and head) warm and oxygenated. read more

For all of these to occur simultaneously at this high rate an increased heart rate is required. read more

During exposure to cold temperatures, most heat loss -- up to 90% -- escapes through your skin; the rest, you exhale from your lungs. Heat loss through the skin happens primarily through radiation and speeds up when skin is exposed to wind or moisture. read more

cold fluids cause a reflexive action to lower heart rate. Cold air will do this as well, it is a survival reaction similar to the reaction one gets when hypothermia sets in. Like the old saying goes, they aint dead til they are warm and dead. read more