Your patient is an 86-year-old man with a cardiac history. He takes blood thinners and a beta blocker for his heart. He is quite cool to the touch and his pulse oximeter reading is 87 percent. This is concerning because you know that:

A) the beta blocker can cause hypothermia in the elderly population.
B) hypothermia causes a shift in the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve.
C) hemoglobin is suppressed leading to a decreased oxygen level.
D) hypothermia leads to an increased risk of pulmonary embolism.

Answer: B