Who's most at risk from cold weather?

Some people are at higher risk to becoming seriously unwell because of cold weather. These include:

• People aged 65 and above
• Babies and young children, particularly under the age of 5
• People with long-term health conditions such as cardiovascular or respiratory disease, or a mental health condition
• Pregnant women
• People with learning disabilities
• People at risk of falls
• People who live alone and may be unable to care for themselves
• People who are housebound or have low mobility
• People living in deprived circumstances
• People experiencing homelessness or people sleeping rough

There are many reasons for the increased risk of ill-health in cold weather. Some include:

• Individual vulnerability, for example age and pre-existing medical conditions
• Circulating infectious diseases, particularly flu and norovirus
• Attitudes to cold and associated behaviours, for example ability to look after oneself in cold weather; use of malfunctioning or inappropriate appliances to heat their homes which can increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning
• Seasonal factors, for example snow and ice
• Housing and economic factors - Poor quality housing and particularly cold homes. Damp and mould in your home can increase the risk of respiratory problems and infections, allergies, and asthma, and can also affect your immune system