South East Health Chief issues cold weather warning to Shepway's elderly

'Keep warm, keep well' is the message South East Public Health Director Dr Mike Gill wants to get across to the South East's population this winter. According to the Met Office, the coming winter months may well be the coldest in recent years. This has health implications for us all, but particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those suffering from heart or chest problems.

Older people are more at risk from cold weather as they are more prone to developing colds and flu and may not sense they are getting cold until their body temperature falls. Additionally, many older people live in homes which can be expensive to heat, relatively cold, and which are therefore more risky environments.

In his Annual Report Dr Mike Gill highlights the 91,400 older people without central heating across the region - a factor which clearly contributes to colder homes. The report also points out that older people with central heating may not use it because of financial worries or may not adjust it to a high enough temperature.

The report also highlights the 20,000 to 40,000 extra winter deaths that occur in England compared to other months of the year. Those most susceptible to higher death rates in winter are the over 85's. There are 28% more deaths among this age group in the South East during winter months, equating to 2,360 people being killed, at least in part, by the cold each year.

The cold is actually more dangerous than most people realise and is far more likely to lead to heart attacks, strokes or chest infections than hypothermia. Heart attacks and strokes are caused directly by the body's response to the cold: the blood becomes more sticky and likely to clot. Cold weather also causes breathing problems both through infection and because of the direct effect of cold air on the airways, which tighten up.

However there are simple measures that should help us all to stay healthier this winter:

• Keep warm at all times even when it appears mild outdoors - allowing your hands and feet to get cold can cause problems with your circulation
• Wear adequate clothing and keep moving, whether inside or outside
• Several layers of thin clothes may be more effective than one thick one
• When indoors keep the living room at 21C (70F) and other rooms at 18C (64F). During cold weather bedroom windows should remain closed
• If at all possible, make sure you get a flu jab
• Check on any elderly relative or neighbour living alone
• If in doubt call the Winter Warmth Advice Line on 0800 085 7000

Dr Gill commented:

"The cold kills thousands of people every year in the UK, but many of these deaths can be prevented if older people and those with heart and chest problems know how to protect themselves.

"Unfortunately people in the UK don't respect the cold as they do in other countries and many people believe that a cold house is actually healthy. This is absolutely not the case, and I would urge all people to look keep warm, both indoors as well as outside and at night as well as during the day."

The 2005 Annual Report of the South East Regional Director of Public Health will be available on 17 November 2005, at www.gose.gov.uk/