Wellbeing in Winter

The cold weather can also cause other serious health problems – like heart attacks, stroke and pneumonia. This means it’s essential to keep warm in winter. The best way to get through winter is to keep warm and to follow as healthy a lifestyle as possible.What you eat and drink, and the exercise you take, can make a big difference. Wearing the right clothes is also very important.

Top tips for keeping warm and well

Heat well

Try to keep a temperature of 21ºC (70ºF) in the main rooms you use during the day; your bedroom should be kept above 18 degrees. Use a hot water bottle or electric blanket (not both for safety reasons) if your bedroom is cold at night.

Dress well

Wear plenty of layers and put on a good coat, hat, scarf and gloves when you go outside. Wear plenty of thin layers, rather than one thick one. Wear clothes made of wool, cotton, or fleecy synthetic fibres and stay warm in bed with bed socks, thermal underwear and a nightcap or headscarf

Eat well

Food is a vital source of warmth, so try to have regular hot meals and drinks throughout the day. Try to make sure you have good stocks of food available at home, including tinned or frozen foods, so that you do not have to go out in extremely cold weather. For further information on healthy eating, visit  www.eatwell.gov.uk

Keep moving

Moving around is good for your health and generates extra body heat, so any exercise or activity will help keep you warm. Moderate exercise, like walking, for example, can be very beneficial. If you have an exercise routine, try to keep it up in winter as it will help keep you warm but don’t take risks in wet or icy weather.  And, if you are outside in the cold for whatever reason, try to keep moving rather than standing or sitting.

Stop smoking

Stopping smoking will boost your health for the winter, reduce your chances of a heart attack and improve your body’s circulation. Looking out for neighbours If you have an older person as a neighbour or a relative, please look out for them in the winter months If curtains aren’t opened during the day, or there are no lights on in the evening, there may be something wrong. If you think there are serious grounds for concern, contact the emergency services.

Looking out for neighbours

If you have an older person as a neighbour or a relative. please look out for them in the winter months. If curtains aren't opened during the day, or there are no lights on in the evening, there may be something wrong. If you think there are serious grounds for concern, contact the emergency services.

Keep Warm, Keep Well. Directgov.   © Crown