Keeping Warm This Winter

5 February 2019

Top tips for keeping warm and well

Cold weather can be bad for our health, especially for people aged 65 and older. As we age it takes longer to warm up, which raises the risk of increased blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.

These are easy things you can do to help yourself stay healthy over the winter

1. Keep warm

Heat your home to at least 18°C (65°F). You may prefer your main living room to be slightly warmer. Keep your bedroom window closed on a winter’s night. Breathing in cold air can increase the risk of cest infections.

2. Get financial support

There are grants, benefits and sources of advice available to make your home more energy-efficient, improve your heating or help with bills. View the Keep Warm Keep Well booklet online to learn more www.gov.uk/phe/keep-warm/

3. Look after yourself

  • Contact your GP to get your free flu jab if you are aged 65 or over, live in a residential or nursing home, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person. NHS Choices provides information about flu. Visit www.nhs.uk/flu to learn more.
  • Don’t delay in getting treatment for minor winter ailments like colds or sore throats. Visit your local pharmacist for advice on treatment before it gets worse so you can recover quicker.
  • Layer your clothing whether you are indoors or outside. Wrap a scarf around your mouth to protect your lungs from the cold air.
  • Wear shoes with a good grip if you need to go outside.
  • When you’re indoors, try not to sit still for more than an hour or so. Get up, stretch your legs and make yourself a warm drink.
  • Have your say heating anf cooking appliances checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure thay are operating safely.
  • Contact your water and power suppliers to see if you can be on the Priority Services Register, a service for older and disabled people.
  • For more information about how to stay warm and well in winter visit Age UK’s website www.ageuk.org.uk/winterprep or call 0800 587 0668.

For more winter wellness tips visit www.nhs.uk/keepwarmkeepwell

To download a copy of this information click here.

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Update - Please note the practice will be closed from 6pm on Thursday 28th March until 8am on Tuesday 2nd April due to the Easter Bank Holiday.

Think which service? - NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (shropshiretelfordandwrekin.nhs.uk) Please dial 111 for any non-urgent medical issue that cannot wait until the practice reopens. As always please only dial 999 for any urgent/life threatening matters.

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