WITH the government introducing means-testing to assess eligibility for the winter fuel allowance, lots of people within our community will suffer from health-related illnesses due to the cold weather this autumn and winter.

I’d like to reach out to all members of our community and especially the elderly to empower them with advice to help them stay healthy during the cold months ahead.

There are a number of infectious diseases that affect your respiratory system and breathing that are more common in cold weather which can lead to pneumonia and bronchitis.

This is because viruses can survive more easily in cold conditions, the cold can make it more difficult for your immune system to fight off germs and infectious diseases spread more easily in autumn and winter because we spend more time with people indoors.

Patients with asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are most at risk.

Gastroenteritis, which commonly presents with diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain, is more common as temperatures drop.

This is because in adults gastroenteritis is often caused by the norovirus which is commonly referred to as the ‘winter vomiting bug’.

Cold weather is also associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke, depression and causing arthritis symptoms to flare.

In severe cases cold weather can cause hypothermia.

This is a dangerous drop in body temperature below 35°C.

Symptoms include slow breathing, slurred speech and shivering.

Leading on from this frostbite can occur at temperatures below minus 0.55 °C.

Frostbite is characterised by damage to the skin at the extremities of the body, such as the hands, feet, ears, nose and lips which start off feeling cold and painful and then turn numb as the tissue becomes damaged.

Hypothermia and frostbite are medical emergencies that require treatment in hospital. There’s a lot you can do to protect yourself from becoming unwell during cold weather.

This includes getting vaccinated against flu, Covid-19 and the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

Keeping warm by wearing thermal clothing and using a hot water bottle will help.

Close your bedroom window on cold winter nights as breathing cold air increases the risk of chest infections.

Staying active by exercising regularly is important as this generates heat that helps you to keep warm.

Washing your hands is essential to staying healthy.

This prevents the spread of infectious diseases, such as flu, RSV and Covid-19.

Eating well is vital to staying healthy as the temperatures drop.

Being underweight makes it harder for your body to keep warm and fight infections.

Try to include a range of fruits and vegetables in your diet to stay healthy to combat any winter bugs.

Stopping smoking is key to staying healthy in the cold months ahead.

This will reduce the likelihood of developing chest infections and strengthen your immune system.

Finally, taking vitamin C, D, zinc and selenium supplements alongside turmeric, ginger, garlic and honey have been shown to strengthen your immune system and reduce the likelihood of you developing chest infections as well as speeding up the recovery from infectious diseases.

Our columnist Dr Jason Seewoodhary is a former Worcester GP.