THE UK is getting it’s first proper taste of winter as an arctic chill descends on parts of the country, bringing with it cold weather health warnings.
Temperatures are expected to plunge rapidly across Scotland and northern England, as the Met Office warns of wind, ice and snow.
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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a cold health alert covering the Midlands and north of England for much of the coming week, as the mercury is expected to drop to -3C.
The yellow alerts mean weather is likely to have impacts on health and social care services, with vulnerable people at the greatest risk.
Cold weather can affect our health in many ways.
Some of them you might expect, such as increased coughs and colds as more of us are driven to shelter inside.
Read more on cold weather
But the plunge in temperature could increase the risk of several life-threatening health conditions.
The newly icy temperatures could see some suffering from back pain, the so-called ‘winter penis’ and even an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Here are six unexpected ways cold weather can affect our bodies.
1. ‘Winter penis’
You might have heard men complaining that their members look a little smaller during the winter.
While this sounds a bit a like a myth, Dr Sarah Jarvis previously told Sun Health that “technically, winter penis is a thing”.
It has to do with blood vessels in the extremities contracting when it gets cold in order to redirect blood flow to vital areas like our internal organs.
The GP and clinical director of Patient.info explained: “Basically, in winter your body retains heat by shutting down blood vessels on the surface.
“We know that one of the most obvious places, because it has a very large surface area, is the penis.
“We also know that testicles tend to get smaller in cold whether and may well be drawn higher up into the scrotum.
“It is not a physical permanent change, if you warm up then it will go back to normal.”
Writing for The Conversation, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre at Lancaster University, Adam Taylor, said this appendage’s susceptibility to cold elements has to do with its anatomy.
He said the natural response of blood flow being diverted from the penis – which he describes as sponge – reduces its size “but also keeps the penis closer to the body to prevent it freezing”.
“A similar change happens with the testicles, which, when cold, are drawn closer to the body to keep them warm,” he added.
Despite these protective measures, penises can still suffer tissue damage if exposed to temperatures below zero, Dr Taylor said, citing the example of Finnish cross-country skier Remi Lindholm who suffered frostbite to this member after competing in the 2022 winter Olympics in Beijing.
2. Frostbite
Speaking of frostbite, it’s not just private parts that fall victim to colder temperatures.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “it most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes”.
The health watchdog described frostbite as “an injury to the body that is caused by freezing”.
The NHS adds that it typically occurs in temperatures bellow -0.55C.
Symptoms typically begin with affected parts feeling cold and painful, along with pins and needles, throbbing or aching.
This is the stage known as frostnip, in which the skin becomes numb and white.
Prolonged exposure to the cold causes tissue damage.
The affected area can feel hard and frozen but will turn red and blister when it thaws out.
This is called superficial frostbite, as it affects the top layers of skin and tissue.
It needs treatment, but it’s not as severe as deep frostbite, which can cause damage beneath the skin to the tendons, muscles, nerves and bones.
Skin becomes white, blue or blotchy and as it thaws, blood-filled blisters turn into thick black scabs.
It’s likely that tissue will die if the frostbite has progressed to this stage and the affected tissue may have to be removed to prevent infection, NHS guidance says.
3. Blood clots
Not all cold-related health issues are caused by exposure to freezing temperatures; the temperature inside your home as it gets chillier outside also matters.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said “our bodies fight a constant battle” to keep our core temperature at around 37.5C so that cells and organs are protected from damage.
It adds that when we start to get cold, our blood becomes thicker, which can lead to blood clotting – this is when it clumps together and hardens.
Blood clots can be serious if not treated, leading to dangerous health events like strokes and heart attacks.
In fact, the UKHSA said this “is one of the reasons we see more heart attacks and strokes in the days following colder weather”.
If you’re able to, the agency recommended you heat your home or specific rooms you are using to “at least 18C”.
Symptoms of a blood clot
There are two types of blood clots.
A blood clot in one of the large veins in someone’s leg or arm is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
If not treated, DVT can move or break off and travel into the lungs.
Meanwhile, a blood clot in the lung is called a pulmonary embolism (PE) – this can be deadly and requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of a DVT include:
- swelling in your arm or leg
- pain or tenderness not caused by an injury
- skin that’s warm to the touch, with swelling or pain
- redness of the skin
Symptoms of PE include:
- difficulty breathing
- sudden, sharp chest pain that might get worse when you breathe in
- coughing up blood
- fast or irregular heartbeat
Source: NHS, CDC
“This is the temperature at which we start to see changes in the body, when the blood starts to thicken,” it explained.
“So, temperatures above this are best to protect your health.”
Moving about rather than sitting still can also prevent your blood from clotting as well as keeping you a little warmer.
Getting up at intervals to make yourself a warm drink or grab a snack is a good way to remember to keep moving.
“If you can’t move around, wiggle your toes and fingers,” the UKHSA recommended.
“It may not sound like much, but even small measures like this can help keep you warm and well.”
GP Suzanne Wylie also warned that cold weather can make blood vessels constrict, placing strain on the heart and putting those with pre-existing cardiovascular issues at higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other complications.
4. Breathing problems
Many us of keep our windows well shut throughout the day to keep the cold air out.
You might think the nighttime is a good time crack open a window and air the place out, since you’re tucked under your covers.
But the Met Office warned that it’s important to keep your house warm and your bedroom window closed on cold winter nights.
“Breathing cold air can be bad for your health as it increases the risk of chest infections,” it said.
Asthma + Lung UK said cold air “can cause your airways to narrow, [increasing] the amount of mucus you produce and making it harder for you to breathe”.
“Cold, dry air can also irritate your airways and worsen symptoms like wheezing, coughing and breathlessness,” it added.
5. Lowered immunity
Being cold can also affect your body’s ability to fight off infections, the UKHSA said.
“This is why in the weeks after the cold weather we see more deaths from infections like pneumonia, and lung conditions and coughs can develop into a more serious problem,” it explained.
Asthma + Lung UK added that while cold air can make it harder to fight off respiratory infections like colds and flu, it’s also the way we take refuge from the chillier weather that can put us at risk.
Spending more time indoors can actually help spread respiratory infections, it said.
6. Back pain
If you feel like your lower back pain feels worse when it’s cold outside, you’re not imagining it.
Johns Hopkins Medicine said: “Back pain can indeed be related to barometric pressure and outdoor temperature.
“Changes in pressure can sometimes cause pain in arthritic joints, including the spine.”
It added that your joints react to the environment, with the cold making them stiffer and more likely to suffer injury.
