West Midlands PUBLIC Health chief issues cold weather warning to elderly

According to the Meteorological 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 older people and those suffering from heart or chest problems.

Older people may not sense they are getting cold until their body temperature falls. Additionally, older people may sometimes live in homes which are expensive to heat and relatively cold, and which are therefore more risky environments.

The cold is actually more dangerous than most people realise; heart attacks, strokes or chest infections are far more likely than hypothermia.

There are approximately 3,600 extra winter deaths in the West Midlands compared to other months of the year1. The most common cause of death is a heart attack or stroke, 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
· Try to get warm before you go out into the cold
· 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
· Check on any elderly relative or neighbour living alone

Dr Shukla said:

“The cold kills thousands of people every year in the West Midlands, 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 keep warm, both indoors as well as outside and at night as well as during the day.”


If you would like any further information or to arrange an interview with Dr Rashmi Shukla, Regional Director of Public Health then call Nigel Smith, Communications Manager on 0121 352 5327 or 07879431370

Notes to Editors:

Source – ONS, statistics for Winter Deaths 2004/05 – December 2004 to March 2005

Useful Websites

Met Office - For up to date weather forecasts log onto the Met Offices site http://www.met-office.gov.uk/index.html

3. The Department of Health Guide: Keep Warm Keep Well: Winter 2005/06 - A winter guide booklet http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4118494&chk=3F3c3I The guide gives advice on keeping warm and healthy; home improvement grants; heating your home; and help with bills

4. Age Concern - http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/ for useful information on keeping warm this winter plus other advice including about free electric blanket testing

5. Help the Aged - http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/CampaignsNews/News/_items/_winter_deaths.htm For details of the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership which aims to combat fuel poverty among older people