IS IT TRUE THAT IF YOU WEAR A COAT INSIDE, YOU WON’T FEEL ITS BENEFIT WHEN YOU GO OUTSIDE?
The answer is found in a combination of biology and survival tactics. Hypothermia sets in when the core body temperature drops by one or two degrees Celsius. Waiting until you’re outside before putting your coat on will lead to a short but significant loss of body heat through convection and conduction until you cover up. Leaving your coat on all the time indoors will lead to vasodilatation, which can also increase your heat loss and take time to reverse when you step outside. The answer may be a compromise: putting your coat on shortly before you’re due to go outside will allow a warm, protective layer of heated air to be captured around your body without causing excessive vasodilatation.