I was wondering if anyone has any information or reasearch on the affect an unheated house would have on long term lung conditions. I have bronchietasis and asthma. I was going to do a bit of research but I thought someone might already have the info.Thank you in advance .🥶
Unheated house : I was wondering if... - Lung Conditions C...
Unheated house
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teddyd
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84 Replies
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I don't know about the official research but a lifetime of living with bronch confirms that living in a cold house is very bad for me and I am sure for all lung conditions. Due to a failure by Worcester Bosch customer services last december I spent 12 days in the cold and had my first exacerbation for a year. As it happens the same boiler failed yesterday and after an email to the CEO from me the engineer is fitting a new one as I speak.
sassy59• in reply to
I should think so too Littlepom. You’ll soon be nice and warm. Xxx😘
• in reply tosassy59
Thanks sassy. I've got a team GB power lifter fitting it. Made my day 🤣
sassy59• in reply to
Wow! That’s brilliant! 👍😂💞
eleanordigby• in reply to
how exciting! he’ll soon warm you up 😊
watergazer• in reply to
amazing xx
Izb1• in reply to
Hope this new boiler will make your home toasty warm and help you get over this exacerbation x
• in reply toIzb1
Aww thanks. I had the exacerbation when left in the cold last Dec and haven't had one since. However, as we know, now begins the time of dodging other people's germs. Stay well xx
For me it is the cold air that I breathe in that is the problem, be it inside or outside. If under 16 degrees I suffer regardless of wearing sufficient clothing to be bodily warm.
Not seen official research but read (and am afraid I agree with) that cold housing can be bad for anyone but especially those with lung issues. There is a media trend saying (with cost of living crisis) only heat rooms actual use. However, what isn’t being widely publicised is that leaving rooms cold can increase risk of mould on walls which as well as potentially being dangerous for us lungies can be expensive to treat once it takes hold!!
I have purchased many items for cold months ahead (such as slanket, hot water bottles you heat in microwave, teddy fleece bedding, wrist warmers and so on) but will still heat all rooms for a few hours each day.
I read a report Bevvy cpl days ago about this and it recommend heating unused rooms on a low setting
yes I read something about that too, it’s tempting not to heat unused rooms but it’s not a good idea to have cold spots in a house so it’s best to have heating on low
We keep heating on low setting as I cannot stand full heat affects my breathing love my fleecy blanket and hot water bottle.
I would think mold would thrive in a warm, moist area?
difficult moulds will try to take in different areas but it is know that in cold homes, which often are also damp due to UK climate, mould will grow and flourish. You rarely get mould in warm, dry and ventilated homes.
This topic was featured on breakfast news on TV this morning. A man with a lung condition being interviewed said that he can keep his body warm with extra clothing but he needs to breathe warm air to avoid having breathing difficulties.
I'm totally with him. I can have on every warm piece of clothing but if I'm breathing in cold air I get asthma and usually any bacteria in my airways flares up as well. Someone once left a door open and I didn't realise I was getting progressively colder until I felt suddenly cold and my throat was on fire with a flare up of whatever sore throat was going around at the time. My body had been keeping it at bay until my core temperature dropped.
I used to wake up with a slight sore throat until I started leaving a heater on at night.
It will make it worse living in a place like that .
For anyone in a cold home or outside,I'd recommend a thin,or thick,loosely wrapped scarf,or a snood.it helps to warm the air you breathe.its comfy and also helps keep u warm. It wouldn't interfere with 02 tubing,& is v effective if it's windy,too.keep warm everyone.if u need to turn heating down,wrap up in layered clothing and plenty of hot drinks,maybe use a flask instead of kreep boiling kettle.stay safe xxx
Cold air is a trigger for anyone with asthma and as a kid my mother was told to ensure a warm, even temperature. But our house was ancient and draughty, no c/h even though this was the 80s! We had open fires & oil heaters. The living room and kitchen were warm but my north facing bedroom freezing! My asthma was terrible, so it’s a warm, modern house for me now, and b***** the cost
I'm the same. I'm working at the moment so not sure what will happen when I retire. However heat will always be a priority.
It's the opposite for me I suffer in too much heat .. I don't mind the cold and don't switch heating on until probably January if it's even cold then for me ... I sleep with my bedroom window open all year round to keep cool ...its air pressure that has me struggling some days when walking if the sky's heavy with cloud and pressure is low ... swings and roundabouts in this world 💜
January, amazing! What’s your lung illness, if you don’t mind me asking?
COPD diagnosed 2016 😊
Ooh you must be tough!
Yes high humidity, and sudden gusts of cold wind affects me most.
I always have my windows open too, my bedroom window all night. Cool air suits me better as long as it isn't icy cold air.
I think air pressure affects me too,BB.both sinuses and airways x
Yes I'm not a lover of my chest feeling like its being crushed it's horrible 😞
Not good.get pain in sinuses + head too.x
Not sure on that one teddyd, but a warm home is better. If not do try to keep yourself bodily warm, socks, wheat pads , extra duvet or blankets even when sitting. Hyperthermia can kill so if you can afford your heat on do so even if at short spates or try having it on lower temperature . They are now coming up with places where you can go for freindship and warmth but these are not best for those who cannot get out. Cold does cause exasperations of lung conditions, speaking from experience warmth makes you feel better too.
Hi I have mild/moderate copd and asthma. Cold air does make my breathing worse.
However I don't live in a house but a small 1 bed flat and don't have central heating. I have just a 2 bar halogen fire but I open the bedroom door and so it's not freezing in there.
I live in South Devon so it's a bit warmer than most places and I haven't had any heating at all on since 31st March. I have a lovely warm throw my sister bought me for my tatty old sofa but it's on me instead! So far I haven't been really cold but do recognise I will have to turn the fire on if it does get really cold. Due to the cost I am trying to keep it off as long as possible.
Try a small electric blanket on your couch under a throw and switched on low roasty toasty 🥰
Keep moving to keep warm . I get cold when I s it down despite lots of layers and still have to move around . My blood circulation is not good . Helps to lie flat and then i get cosy!! Also have electric blanket that is designed to be left on very low for up to 9 hours as well as being able to warm bed very quickly if necessary .
Thank you everyone for your replies. I have not felt the need to put thhe central heating on. Its a cozy flat I stay in. But currently my asthma/bronchietasis has flared up and I wondered if it because I dont want to put my heating on. I know I am stubborn and not wanting to put one penny more into the fat cats pockets than I need to. However I know my stupidity could possibly affect my health.
Thanks again for everyones input to the discussion as it is going to affect lots of us especially people with medical equipment ( I only have a nebuliser )
XX
My experience as an asthmatic, in my grandparent's home, was that if I went into a very cold room, i started wheezing, unless I did very shallow breathing. When going outside always made to wrap a scarf round my nose and mouth, breathing through this reduced the chance of me wheezing. So for me, not so much the being cold, but the very cold air hitting the lungs, they revolted!!
Yes happens to me too. On a few ocassions in winter, I came up my stairs and collapsed wheezing in my vestibule and was lucky to have salbutamol to hand. I must have lay for 15 mins recovering. Very scary noy being able to breathe.
I would never even consider living in an unheated house. I have COPD and my health is more important than anything. The gas and electric company have increased my monthly Direct Debit payment so I'm paying anyway. Your health will suffer badly living in an unheated house. I put my heating on depending on the weather. Also heat every room otherwise causes draughts. The Government are giving help for your heating etc so you pay that into your Account ,that is what the money for. Sheila xx
I have asthma I know from experience I have asthma after living in a home with no heating while it was being put in for 18 months I cot pleurisy and pneumonia I strongly advise against it
I'm one of those who can't tolerate breathing in cold air. Still I survived last winter when the heating was off for a month. Having a gas fire in the living room and little electric blower heaters helped. Don't know what it would cost to rely on those this winter.
There was an interesting programme about how cold affects people (not specifically those with lung problems though) on BBC radio 4 'Inside Health' 3.30pm last Wednesday afternoon. It will be available on BBC-sounds if you want to listen
Living with ACOS and the cold affects me very badly, so the heating is on ! I have a heated throw which is proving to be very helpful.
Adding up the government heating benefits I should be ok to pay for heating through this winter in U.K.
Keep warm.
assets.publishing.service.g... evidence based report is interesting, and recommends a min of 18Cparticularly in vulnerable people. I found the link between low temp and negative health outcomes such as clots and high BP even in healthy adults rather interesting also
can’t open that patty
GAH! I shall see if I can find a way to share...maybe it's because I am trying to do it on my phone?
try this assets.publishing.service.g...
ah yes that works - you had a rogue word “This” on the end of your link! easily done
Low heating throuout the house with top up in room you are actually using. Costs have become horrendous. Here in France now paying same price for heating oil as for diesel fo the car! Unfortunately the house uses a lot more than the car!! Soon there will be a shortage of wool for knitting, although there appears to be no shortage of nits in Westminster, and elsewhere.
You're not wrong! 😆
We all get £66 a month,frm October to March,towards home fuel costs here.x
I live in a really cold house and it takes alot to keep it warm so will have to be careful this year. I have found that putting the central heating on when cold and using a halogen heater in the room I am sitting in to keep topped up works fine for me. I dont like it too warm but I also dislike getting cold, especially now I am getting older. We will all have to be careful this year but luckily we have had help from the government and wont need to get cold. I havent used much gas this year so have a chunky credit balance to see me ok to start off the winter and the monthly £66 will be going straight back into it as well x
R the halogen heaters gd Izb?howre they for running costs?There was a post last wk,I think,asking for suggestions xx
They work fine for me and cost 6p per hour for 400w. I use two bars which is 800w at 12p per hour. So i put my central heating on for an hour with the halogen heater and the living room warms up quickly and stays warm for quite a while. I only do this for the room i am in and the central heating at least warms the rest of the house. I put it on for around 3 hours a day at the at the moment. I am not sure yet what i will be paying for gas as i havent worked that out properly and cant fathom how many kilowats are in an hours worth of gas lol, but I signed a 3 year fixed fee earlier in the year so am hoping it will be better x
Hello Teddyd,
I would imagine that completely unheated would be a bad thing, as this would encourage mold which is extremely unhealthy. Also if your body gets too cold, you could suffer from hyperthermia. Your energy provider might be able to help with finance due to your health conditions. A dehumidifier that uses low electricity could solve the damp problem. An extra duvet and a hot water bottle will keep you warm at night. Put extra layers on in the day. Also have plenty of hot drinks. You could also, eventually, when it gets very cold, if you have central heating, put it on a low temperature, or just run it on a slightly higher temperature for a few hours in the evening when one is more likely to relax. An electric fire would use a lot of power, but could be used for a short time. I saw that you can get heated throws that don't use much energy. You could always turn off the radiators in the rooms you aren't using and use the dehumidifier in them to get rid of any damp. These are all ideas that I am adopting or planning to adopt, myself. I hate the cold !!
You will need heating of some kind, once the weather gets colder. Your health is more important than anything. Look after yourself 😀
try putting your heating on low tell your power suply your health problems you go onn to they register for not having power cut of , plus see what cab can do have d/d for payment they can help you better that way , thats what i was told ghoust rider
Hello again,
Have read that the NHS advise against going outside in very cold weather if you have asthma etc. I would imagine that an unheated house wouldn't be much better. Hope this helps.
“Cold homes can increase the risk and severity of lung conditions like asthma and COPD"
Cold homes could lead to a higher risk of breathing issues says a lung expert from the Institute for Respiratory Health.
“The WHO says an indoor temperature of 18 degrees Celsius is classified as healthy,” Associate Professor Moodley said.
I have asthma and bronchiectasis and I’ve noticed the colder weather is affecting me. My son and his wife haven’t been putting their heating on and my joints and coughing have been affected after a day at their house. Xx
I dont know a lot -but what i do know is one day on a very very cold frosty day my boiler decided to go down & I found myself out of breath & it getting a bit shallow & my lungs started hurting - I had to go to my neighbours house to sit by their fire to warm them up & had to phone my dad to get him to restart it before I went back in
Hi Teddy, my childhood bedroom was unheated and had mould on the walls, sometimes ice an inch thick on the inside of the windows. I spent every winter with swollen glands, sore throats, coughs and chest infections and I’m convinced that contributed to my getting COPD. I remember when I was young I swore to myself I would have a lovely warm home when I grew up and fortunately that has been the case. We leave our heating on 24/7 in the cold weather, and it’s bliss!
very interesting to read the comments on here. I was renting a drafty cottage with little insulation the last two years I had 6 exasperations living there. I moved to a brand new home 8 weeks ago and my breathing feels so much better the thermostat is set at 18 now so the heat comes on if it drops as I cannot afford to get I’ll. just recovering from covid right now
Hope yr feeling better pepperby x
thank you it’s day 7 still testing positive cough from hell and weird aching in neck back and head!! I had used a rescue pack but realise it wasn’t a chest infection. I suppose it was bound to get me in the end. I’ve been vaccinated 4 times
Do u wear a mask whn out? X
no I don’t unless I have to I can’t breathe in masks
ooo how lovely, I’m so pleased you have a warm new home just in time for winter, and hope you feel better from covid soon
I’m so glad too I waited a year to move into this house and it’s in the Surrey countryside beautiful views I’m very lucky to have it.
It’s very important to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, particularly if you have COPD. I will not risk my health by being cold, whatever the cost is & the six monthly allowance from the government, together with my direct debit should hopefully cover most of my monthly heating bill. I live in a village with no gas so my bills have always been high as my energy is all electric. I’ve been very poorly this year with necrotic pneumonia & now pseudomonas so can’t take any risks. I feel ill enough as it is, without being cold as well.
If the air is damp then it will probably effect your asthma, I grew up in a freezing cold house and was OK with asthma, it was the damp foggy which is a problem, so I also suppose it depends how bad your asthma is and what triggers it more for you?Hard times 😳 unacceptable fuel prices
Personally Teddy, cold air effects my breathing , even popping into a room with the radiator turned off for a few minute's it sets me off coughing.With this heating crisis I've been trying to be careful, In the cold weather I always leave my heating on low during the night, but tried having the heating off, but I was coughing more "breathing" in the cool air.
Like you I have bronchiectasis and asthma
Hi Yeddy, you should not sit or sleep in a room with a temperature less than 17 degrees. Take care, Maximonkey
I did a quick check myself, but the conclusion of some is that research in this area is underfunded. Moulds are well known as a problem in respiratory disease, as others have said below. you may find these two of interest. The second one in particular I found interesting.
I remember when my boiler went down & the weather was extrememly cold & my lungs were hurting so much I took refuge in my neighbours house who had a lovely natural fire burning .I phoned my mum & dad from there to ask them to restart my boiler - I was shallow breathing so thats how it affected me .Once he d restarted the boiler & the house was warmed up I was ok again
My main worry is these national 3 hour power cuts . I m registered as vulnerable with british gas & my local electrical supply so that i could get priorty
Fingers crossed the power cuts dont go ahead. I am also registered on the priority register .
I still advise you to think about heating, or to start insulating the house with various insulating materials that will also be moisture resistant and will help reduce the level of humidity in the house. Well, if we talk about moisture-resistant materials, then I really liked these panels sheetmaterialswholesale.co.... which I plan to use for wall decoration in the bathroom. It seems to me that it will be beautiful, but at the same time I can save money by not buying a tile.
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