WITH temperatures dropping this week in the UK, many households will have started to feel the chill.
And with colder weather comes the indecision around the right time to turn on the heating is.
ShutterstockThe NHS recommends heating rooms in your home to a minimum temperature to stave off winter illnesses[/caption]
Many Brits might be delaying heating their homes to save money on energy bills.
But health experts warn that shivering in cold rooms could have a detrimental impact on our health and land us with any number of the nasty winter bugs going round.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), being cold can make our bodies less able to fight off infections, making you more vulnerable to viruses circulating.
It warned that lung conditions and coughs can develop into more serious infections, which is why more people tend to die of pneumonia in the colder months of the year.
And as we start to feel cold, our blood becomes thicker, which can lead to blood clotting. This is “one of the reasons we see more heart attacks and strokes in the days following colder weather,” UKHSA stated.
Aside from heart attacks, strokes and pneumonia, not keeping warm during winter months can also make you vulnerable to depression.
You’re more at risk of developing serious medical conditions due to the cold if you have certain medical conditions, are older or are less able to keep mobile, the health body said.
It said heating your home – or the rooms you spend a lot of time in, such as your living room or bedroom – to minimum temperature can help mitigate those health risks and keep you warm.
Both UKHSA and the NHS suggested you turn your heating up to at least 18°C.
There are other simple ways you can keep yourself and your home warm to stave off winter bugs.
They include:
trying to reduce draughts in your home by fitting draft excluders around doors – you can do this cheaplykeeping your bedroom windows closed at nightwearing several layers of thinner clothing – this could keep you warmer than donning one thicker layer
The NHS also suggested you top your seasonal flu and Covid-19 vaccinations, especially if you’re more at risk of getting seriously ill from these kinds of viruses.
You should be able to get these for free if you:
are 65 or over – this includes those who will be 65 by 31 March 2024have certain health conditions or a learning disabilityare pregnantlive with someone who has a weakened immune systemare a carerare a frontline health or social care workerlive in a care home
If you’re over the age of 65, you should also be able to get the pneumococcal vaccine to protect you against pneumonia. Just contact your GP surgery to get it.
Who’s more vulnerable to cold related illnesses?
You’re particularly vulnerable to the cold if:
you’re 65 or over have long-term health conditions such as cardiovascular or respiratory disease, or a mental health conditionyou’re pregnantyou’re a young child – particularly those aged five and underhave learning disabilitiesyou’re at risk of fallsyou live alone and may be unable to care for yourselfyou’re housebound or have low mobilityyou’re living in deprived circumstances