Flu and freezing weather may be driving up winter death rates

Conclusion There are always more deaths in winter than other seasons, particularly among elderly people. But why these fairly dramatic spikes in the death rate have occurred is still not understood. It should be noted these figures are provisional, as there can be a delay in the ONS receiving the data. Although the media has focused on the likely cause being flu, the numbers provided are for all respiratory conditions. Cold weather can exacerbate many of these conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For most fit and healthy people, flu is not a serious threat, but the elderly and those with other illnesses, such as diabetes and asthma, are at risk of developing serious complications, including pneumonia. It's important to stay healthy in winter and protect yourself against illness. Analysis by Bazian. Edited by NHS Choices. Follow Behind the Headlines on Twitter. Join the Healthy Evidence forum. Links To The Headlines Death rate up by a third in January. BBC News, February 4 2015 Death rate rises as cold snap grips UK. The Guardian, February 4 2015
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Lifestyle/exercise Medical practice QA articles Source Type: news