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The dark, cold nights are starting to set in and the weather is gradually turning colder as October comes to the end, and the Met Office has warned of even more cold, dank and miserable conditions this week.
With weather set to stay bleak for the rest of this week, many households will be reaching for the thermostat to keep cosy and warm indoors. But while cranking the heating can help to stave off the autumn blues, it can actually have an adverse effect on your health.
Health experts have warned that turning on the central heating can make respiratory and sinus conditions worse as it causes air to dry up in a room, exacerbating lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Carolina Goncalves, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmica, explains: “This can lead to flare-ups in asthmatic individuals, causing symptoms like bronchoconstriction, wheezing, and increased mucus production.”
People who suffer from asthma can be at greater risk of having an asthma attack when a house is kept hot and stuffy, as a lack of air flow from open windows can trigger dust allergies which can aggravate symptoms.
Emma Rubach, head of health advice at Asthma + Lung UK, said: “If the central heating is on and windows are closed, dust mites can proliferate, which can trigger dust allergies and cause flare-ups or potentially life-threatening asthma attacks. Symptoms to look out for include coughing, sneezing, wheezing, a tight chest and breathlessness.”
According to the NHS, the most common triggers for asthma include:
infections like colds and flu
allergies such as to pollen, dust mites or animals
smoke, fumes and pollution
medicines particularly anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin
emotions, including stress, or laughter
weather such as sudden changes in temperature, cold air, wind, thunderstorms, heat and humidity
mould or damp
exercise
There are simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of dust mites in your home during the colder months, including regular cleaning and ventilating your home. So even if you are running the central heating, it’s worth opening the windows for a short period to allow airflow through your home.
You also don’t want to avoid running the heating altogether either, as an underheated home can result in damp or moisture in the air, causing a build up of mould.
Mould can cause lung conditions to flare up, while cold air can aggravate conditions like asthma, bronchitis and COPD, so it’s important to keep your home at a warm level. The NHS, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Age UK recommend heating your home to at least 18C to stay healthy in the winter.
Ms Goncalves said: “Cold stress exerts a huge strain on the cardiovascular system. Exposure to cold temperatures causes the blood vessels to constrict, increasing blood pressure and making the heart work harder to circulate blood. This can heighten the risk of hypertension, angina and even heart attacks, especially in individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. Cold temperatures also increase the risk of stroke as they can promote clot formation and impair circulation.”
She adds: “Living in an underheated environment can weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections such as the common cold and influenza. The body’s ability to fend off pathogens is reduced when it is constantly working to maintain core body temperature.”
Health experts also warn that the dry air caused by central heating can dry up your nasal passages, which in turn can aggravate allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, leading to inflammation, congestion and sinus pain.
Central heating also isn’t great for your skin as the dry air can cause conditions like eczema and psoriasis to worsen. The lack of moisture in the air can lead to problems like itching, flaking and cracked skin, causing irritation and increasing the risk of infections.
People who wear contact lenses can also suffer from itchy, irritated eyes when the heating is on, again due to the dry air, but using a humidifier can help to combat this problem.