00:00Now, it's been reported that hospital admissions for flu have quadrupled in England. This comes
00:08as the current cold snap is expected to add pressure to NHS England. Matthew Taylor, Chief
00:14Executive of the NHS Confederation, said that the next two to three weeks will likely be
00:20the busiest period of the year for many local services and that the public needs to acknowledge
00:25the strain that this will place on staff and services. But how does the cold weather affect
00:30your health? Well, as we get older, it takes longer for our bodies to warm up, which can
00:35be bad for our health. The longer the exposure to the cold, for older people in particular,
00:41the more risk of things like heart attacks and worsening arthritis, for example.
00:47If your health could be affected by the cold, try to keep your home heated to at least 18
00:51degrees, that's 65 Fahrenheit, and keep a careful eye on weather forecasts and plan
00:55activity around them. Try not to stay sat down for more than an hour at a time. Move
01:00around and make yourself a hot drink. Even if your health might not be affected by the
01:04cold, do what you can to help friends, family and neighbours who are older or who may have
01:09health conditions, to make sure they have everything they need, particularly when the
01:13weather is bad. If you're feeling a little under the weather, if you have a cold, cough
01:18or similar problem, try your pharmacist or contact NHS 111 for practical health advice.
01:24In order to protect your health, the Met Office website recommends to keep warm and active.
01:29Eating regularly is advised as it helps to keep your body temperature warm, so it's useful
01:34to eat hot meals as well as intaking regular hot drinks. It's advised to keep moving even
01:39when indoors and to keep your bedroom window closed as breathing cold air can increase
01:44the risk of chest infections. The National Emergencies Trust also advises that social
01:49isolation can be more pronounced when people are unable to leave their homes. They recommend
01:54to seek information on warm hubs or community spaces near you.
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