A COLD snap has swept over the UK with Brits being urged to look out for those at risk.
An ice warning has been issued and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have also issued a major health alert due to freezing temperatures.
Rick Findler / Story Picture AgencyA weather warning has been issues across the UK with medics also warning against the affects the cold can have on our health. Pictured above is an icy Richmond Park in London today[/caption]
While the cold weather is likely to cause travel chaos for many Brits trying to get around today, it can also be dangerous when it comes to your health.
Guidance from the UKHSA states that every year, tens of thousands of people across the country die from conditions that can be linked to cold weather exposure.
“Whatever the weather outside, or inside for that matter, our bodies fight a constant battle to keep internal conditions pretty much the same.
“We have a range of reflexes that kick in to keep our core temperature steady at around 37.5C . This is so that our cells and organs are protected from damage,” experts explained.
But what are the main conditions you should be looking out for as the UK braces itself for -10C conditions?
1. Heart attacks
People exposed to cold weather are more likely to suffer a heart attack, a recent study revealed.
Researchers from Lund University in Sweden found that the average number of heart attacks per day was significantly higher when the weather was cold, compared to when the weather was warm.
On a day-to-day basis it translated to four more heart attacks per day when the average temperature was below zero.
It is thought the risk of heart attacks is higher in cold weather because the body responds to feeling chilly by restricting superficial blood vessels.
This decreases how warm the skin is and increases blood flow through the arteries.
The body also begins to shiver and your heart rate increases to keep you warm.
But these responses can add extra stress on your heart, the experts said.
2. Asthma
Experts at Asthma UK say that winter can be a dangerous time for people with asthma as chilly weather, colds, flu, chest infections and mould are more common and can trigger life-threatening asthma attacks.
They explained that these attacks cause airways to become inflamed, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and struggling to breathe.
“Make sure you carry your reliever inhaler (usually blue) with you at all times and keep taking their regular preventer inhaler (usually brown) as prescribed.
“The simple scarf could also save your life.
“Do a ‘scarfie’ – wrapping a scarf loosely over your nose and mouth to help warm up the air before they breathe it in, as cold air is another asthma attack trigger.
“It could also be helpful to stick to indoor activities when the weather is particularly cold”, they advise.
3. Blood clots
Sudden changes in temperature cause thermal stress for the body – which has to work harder to maintain its constant temperature.
In particular, research has shown this makes it more likely for people to suffer from dangerous blood clots during winter.
Authors of a study, conducted at a hospital in Nice, France, suggested that respiratory tract infections are more common in winter and might make patients more vulnerable to blood clots.
They also suggested that chilly weather might make the blood vessels constrict, making it more likely that blood clots will form.
Guidance from the UKHSA states: “When we start to get cold, our blood becomes thicker, which can cause clotting.
“Clotting can cause problems and is one of the reasons we see more heart attacks and strokes in the days following colder weather.”
4. Flu
Flu gets worse in winter months and the cold weather can exacerbate symptoms of the common illness.
It can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) states.
The Sun has been urging readers to come forward for both their flu jabs and their Covid jabs as part of the ‘Do the Double’ campaign.
Between the weeks ending 13 March 2020 and 1 April 2022, there were 35,007 deaths due to flu and pneumonia, the Office for National Statistics states.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that flu patients in hospital had hit the highest level in a decade after a dramatic surge in Christmas.
Admissions stood at 8.3 per 100,000 people in the week to January 1, down from 14.8 the previous week, according to the UKHSA.
This was the highest level in at least a decade – however experts said the figures should be treated with caution.
There can often be a slight reduction in recorded levels of hospital activity over the festive period, which this winter included the weekend of December 24/25 followed by bank holidays on both December 26 and 27.
Despite the drop, the rate is still running above any point in the previous four winters.
“Being cold also affects our body’s ability to fight off infection. This is why in the weeks after the cold weather we see more deaths from infections like pneumonia, as lung conditions and coughs can develop into a more serious problem.
“So, although many of us think the health risks of cold are confined to hypothermia, the reality is that many more people will die of heart and lung problems due to cold weather,” guidance from the UKHSA states.