| The relationship between the weather and health is not
straightforward. A number of factors other than weather
predictions need to be considered when producing a health
forecast, as illness can vary from person to person and
place to place: Season, day of the week, prevalence of viruses
and demographic factors all have an impact.
The facts below demonstrate the impact of the weather - and in particular a fall in temperature - on our health. Visit our what to do pages for tips on how to keep yourself and others healthy and safe in severe weather conditions. |
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- Acute bronchitis affects young children before Christmas and
the over-65s during the New Year period
- In England and Wales, there is a 2% increase in mortality
for every degree below 19 °C. Roughly half of these deaths
are caused by respiratory conditions and half by strokes and
heart attacks
- Cold temperatures lead to stress on the vascular system. After
a fall in temperature, heart attacks increase after two days
and strokes after five days
- Deaths due to respiratory disease increase 12 days after a
fall in temperature
- In Finland, for every 1 °C the temperature drops from
18 °C, the mortality rate increases by just over 0.2%. In
the UK, the figure is around six times higher. Visit our what
to do pages for advice
- Increases in falls and heart attacks occur three days after
snow fall. It is thought that this is because people stay at
home until they need to venture out
- No time lag appears to exist between heat and mortality
- Most heat-related deaths are caused by respiratory illness and strokes in the elderly
To find out more about the Met Office's health forecasting services and expertise please contact our 24-hour Customer Centre or e-mail to health@metoffice.gov.uk.
