What term describes the risk of tissue damage from extreme cold exposure?

Frostbite is the term used to specifically describe the risk of tissue damage resulting from extreme cold exposure. It occurs when skin and other tissues freeze due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. This condition typically affects the extremities, such as fingers, toes, ears, and the nose, where blood flow is lower, making them more susceptible to freezing. Symptoms of frostbite may include a loss of feeling in the affected areas, discoloration, and in severe cases, blistering or gangrene, leading to the potential need for amputation if not treated properly.

Hypothermia relates to a systemic drop in body temperature, which can occur alongside frostbite but is a broader condition affecting the whole body, rather than localized tissue damage. Chilblains are injuries caused by sudden warming of cold, congested body parts and are typically less severe than frostbite, affecting capillaries in the skin. Cryotherapy refers to therapeutic techniques that use cold temperatures to treat a variety of conditions, including inflammation and pain, but does not denote tissue damage from cold exposure, making frostbite the appropriate term for tissue damage caused by extreme cold.