Winter wrapped up

Cold weather means the beginning of the flu season and can cause particular difficulties if you have breathing and circulation problems. To help you stay well, it’s important to keep warm at home and outdoors, follow as healthy a lifestyle as you can and have a flu jab.

For more helpful tips and advice for staying warm and healthy this winter, download our guide:

 Winter wrapped up guide (PDF 1.9MB) 

Stay moving

Keeping active generates heat and helps to keep you warm. It’s good for general fitness and wellbeing too. So when you’re indoors, try not to sit still for more than an hour. Get up and walk around, make yourself a warm drink, and spread any chores throughout the day. Chair-based exercises and simply moving your arms and legs and wiggling your toes are helpful if walking is difficult.

Eat well

Hot meals and drinks help keep you warm, so eat at least one hot meal and have hot drinks during the day. Include a good range of foods in your diet and aim for five portions of fruit and vegetables each day so that you’re getting plenty of nutrients and vitamins. Remember that frozen vegetables are as good as fresh. Having a hot drink before bed and keeping a hot drink in a flask by the bed are good ideas too.

Have a seasonal flu jab

If you’re over 65 be sure to have a seasonal flu jab. Seasonal flu viruses are always changing, so you need to have a jab every year, using the latest vaccine. Flu is not only unpleasant but it can develop into pneumonia, which can be serious. A flu jab is also recommended if you’re under 65 with a condition such as diabetes, a chronic heart, lung, kidney or liver problem, have Parkinson’s or have had a stroke.

Keep your home warm

Most of us spend a lot of time indoors in winter, so it’s important that you are comfortable and safe. One tip is to close the curtains and fit thermal linings if you can. This will help to keep the heat in.

For more helpful tips and advice for staying warm and healthy this winter, download our guide below.

 Winter wrapped up guide (PDF 1.9MB)