Although we are looking forward to the return of sunnier and warmer days, winter is far from over. With a chill still in the air, looking after ourselves is important, and making sure that our home is warm is one of the most important things to do for your health.
If you are putting off dealing with that cold radiator or dodgy boiler, don’t – get a professional like this boiler installation Cheltenham based company https://www.hprservicesltd.com/cheltenham-boilers/boiler-installation-cheltenham/ to repair or replace it for you.
Here are just a few of the health problems that come with being in a home that is too cold…
Increased risks of Infection – We have all heard lots about viral infections over the last couple of years, but there are many viral infections that are more likely to go around in the winter, and this is due to the lower temperatures. When the body is exposed to the cold for a period of time, the immune system is then weakened, as the body stops making as many cells, and this includes antibodies, which are vital when it comes to fighting off viral infections. So if you want to reduce your chances of catching something nasty, keeping warm will help with this.
Damp – When it is cold in the home, this makes it a good environment for damp. The condensation in the room then puts moisture into the air and onto walls and other surfaces which is the ideal conditions needed for mould to flourish. As well as looking unsightly, mould can cause a lot of health problems as it gives off spores. The irritate the membranes in the nose and throat and also in the lungs. If you have asthma, mould can be particularly dangerous and cause breathing problems.
Depression – Whether you are already suffering with a mental illness or not, living in a cold environment can increase the chances of suffering from them, or worsen one that you already have. The cold can make us lethargic, which then leads to lower activity levels and chemical imbalances in the brain. It also affects your memory and levels of productivity, which starts to make developing depression much more likely. The affects that the cold can have on your mood levels can be quite severe, so it is important to be particularly aware of this if you suffer from depression already.
Circulation – When the body is too cold, the blood vessels in us react to this by becoming narrower. It does this to try to preserve heat inside the body, and to particularly protect the main organs, However, because of this if you are susceptible to circulatory illnesses and have a condition like high blood pressure or heart disease, this is more likely to lead to something a lot more serious. The narrower blood vessels can cause a heart attack or a stroke, particularly in people who have these pre-existing conditions.