Why do we always get sick in Winter?: "Behaviour", says Rutland public health official

With winter bringing colder weather, drawn-out nights and a festive feeling - it never fails to bring about more chance of catching a flu or a cold - but why is that?

Leicestershire and Rutland's Public Health Director Mike Sandys says it's all about there being more viruses out there, which can be a result of less ultraviolet light:

'When you've got plenty of sun it tends to kill off viruses that are lurking on hard surfaces. In the winter we're obviously not out and about as much, we tend to be inside more, in less well-ventilated spaces, which leads to viruses circulating more.'

'...and of course, when someone gets a cold - because it's gotten cold, and more viruses are circulating - unless they are good and make certain they're not sneezing on people, then it's going to spread, particularly indoors.'

'It's more to do with our behaviour and less to do with, particularly, the temperature.'

A fatal cost of living crisis?

Leicestershire and Rutland's senior-most health official says we could "potentially" see more deaths in the run-up to Christmas brought on by the cost of living's squeeze on finances.

Public Health Director Mike Sandys says those older, more vulnerable, immuno-compromised people will be at greater risk of becoming ill if they're trying to save money by avoiding turning on the heating:

'We always talk about vulnerable old people, particularly those who're struggling to heat their houses, being more at risk from respiratory illness, increased risk of stroke and up to and including death, in colder weather.'

He added that less-vulnerable families being forced to cut out healthy options when food shopping may be susceptible to more longer-term health risks:

'Food of course is the other (affected by the cost of living), which is maybe affecting families more, as they're struggling to eat as well as they did in the past. That's probably, hopefully not risking short-term issues like malnutrition, but there could be an impact on people's health in the longer term.'

Those eligible will receive the Government's next cost of living payment from November 8th, while those in need of more support during the cost-of-living crisis can visit Citizen's Advice.

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