Staying Well This Winter

If you’re worried about your health, don’t delay, your NHS wants to see you – help us help you get the care you need this winter.

Winter conditions can be bad for our health, especially for people aged 65 or older, and people with long-term conditions such as heart or kidney disease, COPD (including emphysema and chronic bronchitis), asthma or diabetes. Being cold can raise the risk of increased blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.

The cold and damp weather, ice, snow and high winds can all aggravate any existing health problems, increase the risk of a fall, and make us more vulnerable to respiratory winter illnesses. But there are lots of things you can do to stay well this winter.

Stay strong with winter vaccines

Many people get seriously ill from flu, including having complications like bronchitis or pneumonia, and every winter thousands of people die. COVID-19 can also still make people seriously ill. The risk from these viruses is greater during winter when they circulate most as people spend more time indoor

Those aged 65 and over; those who are pregnant; or people who have health conditions that put them at risk; as well as unpaid carers and household contacts of those at risk, will be able to get protected ahead of winter by getting their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. It’s important to come forward if you are eligible, even if you have had previous flu and COVID-19 vaccinations or have had one of the viruses, as protection will fade and both viruses can change over time.

You may be invited to get your free winter vaccines by the NHS through the NHS Wales App, text, email or letter. Don’t worry if you do not receive this – you do not have to wait for it before booking an appointment. If you are eligible, once these winter vaccines are available to you, go ahead and book.

If eligible for the flu vaccine, you can book a flu vaccine through your GP practice, local pharmacy, the NHS Wales App. The nasal spray flu vaccine is offered free through schools and community venues for school-aged children, so parents should keep an eye out for the consent form that will get sent to them. All children aged 2 or 3 can get the vaccine through their GP practice.

See here for more information about COVID-19 vaccinations.

Also, don’t forget that if you’re aged 65 or over, or have certain health conditions, you may be eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine and/ or the shingles vaccine, which will help protect you from pneumococcal diseases (pneumonia) and the shingles disease. Getting your flu and COVID-19 vaccines are two of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others around you safe this winter.

How to avoid passing on flu and COVID-19 to others

Advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is to:

Stay at home if you’re unwell and work from home if you can – this helps reduce the number of people you have contact with.
Avoid contact with people while you have symptoms, especially if they have certain long-term health conditions, which means that they’re at higher risk of illness such as pneumonia, flu and COVID-19.
Let people who need to come into your home know that you have symptoms.

Stock up your medicine cabinet

Ask your pharmacist what medicines should be in your cabinet to help you and your family this winter.

Many over-the-counter medicines (including paracetamol and ibuprofen) are available to relieve symptoms of common winter illnesses such as colds, sinusitis or painful middle ear infection (earache). Your pharmacist can help if you need any advice.

For more information visit our medicine cabinet.

To manage winter illness symptoms at home, you should keep warm, rest, drink plenty of fluids, have at least one hot meal a day to keep your energy levels up and use over-the-counter medicines to help give relief. Only take the recommended dose. Your local pharmacist can also give you further advice.

Keeping yourself and your home warm

Keeping warm over the winter months can help to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression.

Age UK and UKHSA suggest heating your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you. This should be at least 18°C in the rooms that you regularly use such as your living room and bedroom. Low indoor temperatures can have a serious impact on your health, especially if you have medical conditions or are older.

With the rising cost of living, simple changes can help to keep you and your home warm now.

Try to reduce draughts – you can fit draught excluders around doors cheaply.
Keep your bedroom windows closed at night.
Wear several layers of thinner clothing – this will keep you warmer than one thicker layer.
Ensure you are eating enough and having hot drinks.

And remember to check that your heating and cooking appliances are safe. Contact a Gas Safe registered engineer if needed to make sure they’re operating properly.

Keep active

There’s strong evidence that people who are inactive have an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, depression and dementia.

Regular exercise can help improve your physical and mental health, reduce the risk of falling and can be beneficial for recovery if you do get ill.

UKHSA advises to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting down during the day. There are many activities you could do at home to keep active. For tips and ideas on keeping active go to www.nhs.uk/keepactive or have a look at www.ageuk.org.uk/active.

Mental health support

We all feel down from time to time, no matter our age. But if you are struggling with your mental health, NHS Talking Therapies could help you feel better.

Speak to your GP practice about NHS Talking Therapies if you are anxious, depressed or struggling to cope. Your GP team is there to help you – physically and mentally – and can refer you to the right service. Visit our page here for more information on mental health support organisations.

If you live with serious mental illness, you are entitled to a free NHS annual health check – talk to your GP, key worker or mental health service to book it. If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call your local NHS mental health helpline on 111 option 2 for 24-hour advice and support.

The Silver Line, Age Cymru and Re-Engage also offer a number of befriending and advice services. Remember it’s good to talk!

If you are a Carer plan for the ‘what if’…

As a carer you need to be prepared in case you become unwell or have an emergency.

Who will be willing to cover you in an emergency? It’s important that you have plans in place, so we know who will care for the person you look after.

For more information on emergency care plans contact your local authority or Carers UK. Information for carers and looking after someone is also available at the NHS 111 Wales website.