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New research confirms link between lower temperatures in the home and poor health

29 Nov 2022 2 minute read
Photo Steve Parsons PA Images

New research conducted by Public Health Wales (PHW) has confirmed the link between cold temperatures in the home and poor health.

The research found exposure to temperatures of 18°C or below were associated with negative effects on health especially related to heart and lung health, sleep, physical performance and general health.

Older people and those with long-term health problems were more vulnerable to negative impacts from cold temperatures. For example, indoor temperatures at or below 18.2°C were associated with increased severity of symptoms in patients with chronic respiratory problems.

However, no association was observed between indoor temperature and viral infections for healthy adults and children in winter.

Health risks

Hayley Janssen, Public Health Researcher at Public Health Wales, said: “The overall evidence suggests that households will avoid many of the health risks associated with cold homes if they generally maintain home temperatures of 18°C or above, which is the minimum temperature to which the WHO and UK authorities, including Wales currently recommend the general population heat their homes.

“As temperatures dip below 18°C some health risks gradually increase but these can vary with vulnerability and age.

“Our research did also show that there are significant gaps in the evidence – such as the effects of colder temperatures on children and young people, the long-term health and well-being effects of exposure to low indoor temperatures and the impact of cold indoor temperatures on mental health and well-being.”

The Welsh Government currently advise households to set temperatures to 21°C in the living room and 18°C in other rooms for 9 hours in every 24-hour period on weekdays, and 16 hours in a 24-hour period on weekends.

For those households with vulnerable people, the recommendations are 23°C in the living room and 18°C in other rooms achieved for 16 hours in a 24-hour period.

The PHW report also recognises that many households are unable to reach these temperature targets due to financial constraints and acknowledges that temperature recommendations also need to be considered in the context of other factors, including the contribution of household emissions to climate change and household occupants.


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Valerie Matthews
Valerie Matthews
1 year ago

Unheated cold homes are often accompanied with other problems like poor nutrition , We live in a very unequal Society, where some have much and others have nothing. The whole system needs rebalancing. there is far too much inequality in our Tory run Country right now.

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