Brits urged to check on elderly as first cold weather health alert of the season issued

Brits urged to check on elderly as first cold weather health alert of the season issued Yellow cold health warning issued as temperatures plummet towards the end of this week and the UKHSA urges Brits to check on the vulnerable Britain has issued the first cold-health alert of the winter as temperatures drop towards the end of the week. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is calling on people to check on elderly friends, family and neighbours as winter begins to bite and overnight temperatures drop to around zero degrees for much of the country. The yellow cold-health alert has been issued for the North West and West Midlands from 9am on Thursday to 12pm on Saturday. Under the Weather Health Alerting system introduced by UKHSA and the Met Office, yellow Cold-Health Alerts may be issued during periods of heat or cold which could impact those who are particularly vulnerable. To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror just click on the link here to find them at the top of your feed. Experts say elderly people can find it more difficult to regulate their body temperature and may need to take precautions to keep themselves and their homes warm. Dr Anya Gopfert, Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, said: “This is the first Cold-Health Alert of the winter, but we can expect more as we move further into the season. “Cold weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, so it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable.” Cold weather can particularly affect people with conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, as well as lunch conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nazir Hussain, clinical lead at the charity Asthma + Lung UK, said: “The freezing conditions forecast for the next few days could be particularly dangerous for the 12 million people in the UK living with a lung condition, with thousands rushed to hospital with respiratory illness every winter. Cold air can cause the airways to narrow, making breathing more difficult. It can also irritate the lungs and worsen symptoms of lung conditions like asthma and COPD. Respiratory infections are also more common during winter and can trigger flare-ups of lung conditions. “When outside, breathing in through your nose can help warm the air before it reaches your lungs, as can wearing a mask or loosely wrapping a scarf around your nose and mouth. Try to keep your home heated to at least 18 degrees if possible, closing bedroom windows at night.” Weather-Health Alerts focus on the health impacts of weather and health and care workers use them to anticipate periods when their services will be in demand when more people fall ill. What do the different colours of Weather-Health Alert mean? - Green – no alert is issued as the conditions are likely to have minimal impact on health - yellow – yellow alerts may be issued during periods of heat or cold that would be unlikely to impact most people but could impact those who are particularly vulnerable - amber - an enhanced response that indicates that weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service with potential for the whole population to be at risk - Red - an emergency response that indicates significant risk to life for even the healthy population Dr Gopfert added: “We’re reminding people to take simple steps to stay warm and look after their health as temperatures begin to fall. Keeping homes heated where possible and dressing warmly can help people stay safe and well during colder weather.” Nazir Hussain added: “If you have a lung condition take preventative steps to manage your health during the cold weather. Be sure to get your flu vaccination, one of the best ways to protect yourself. “Take your medication and use your preventer inhaler as prescribed and seek medical advice promptly if your symptoms worsen.”