When the dark and cold weather starts to kick in we usually close the windows and reach for the thermostat to keep our homes cosy and insulated from the harsh wintry wind. But the result can be stuffy, germ-ridden, dry and polluted indoor air, so what do we need to keep in mind when using the central heating through the winter months if we want our families to stay healthy?
Many people around the world have difficulty heating their homes adequately in winter and for them the cold can be a real danger. The World Health Organisation recommends a minimum internal temperature of 18°C, and advises that keeping rooms below 16°C increases the risk of respiratory disease, particularly for children. But here in the UK most families manage to keep their houses warm enough through winter. In fact, keeping the heating blasting out and doors and windows shut to keep out the cold can bring health hazards of its own.
A fertile ground for germs
"You'll catch your death of cold" is a scolding we've all probably heard a thousand times and it's true, of course, that you'll run your immune system down if you let yourself get chilled as your body diverts energy to the immediate concern of keeping you warm. But contrary to what you may have been told about catching a cold or flu through being cold, or wet in the cold, you can only catch a cold or other winter virus from coming in contact with the virus itself.
In wintery conditions we spend far more of our time indoors where central heating, air-conditioning and closed windows all provide a nice cosy environment for germs to breed and and spending more time cooped up together means that viruses spread more quickly from one person to another.
Overly dry air
indoor heating dries out the air in the home, which can have several health implications. First of all, it interferes with the functioning of the mucous membranes of your nose, making you more susceptible to colds and other viruses. Secondly, very dry air can aggravate some respiratory conditions and illnesses, such as asthma, allergies and croup. In fact, some cold or flu-like symptoms may actually be a reaction to dust, fungi and other pollutants that have collected in the stale and dry indoor air. If the air in your home is too dry you will probably notice that you have dry skin and hands, and you may have itching and irritation.
Poor air quality
Too little ventilation in the home also leads to poor air quality as everyday pollutants and build up and the oxygen supply depletes. There are a plethora of potential pollutants and irritants in most homes: Fireplaces, cabinets, counter surfaces, carpet, curtains, cleaning products, in fact all kinds of materials and surfaces release chemicals into the air over time. You can smell some forms of pollution, even if you don't know exactly what it is, which often is a prompt to throw open the windows for a while and let in fresh air. But there are many pollutants that you can't smell.
The most dangerous of these is the gas carbon monoxide - the most hazardous substance you're likely to come into contact with on a daily basis. Even low levels of exposure can have an effect on your general health. The fact that you can't see, smell or taste the gas makes it particularly dangerous. Because one of the most common sources of the gas is the incomplete burning of fuels (such as oil, gas, wood and coal) often caused by faulty, unmaintained or badly fitted heating appliances, carbon monoxide poisoning is more common in winter when people have their heating on for longer periods of time and keep their windows shut so any gas produced can't escape.
What you can do
