From frostbite to infections – what really happens to your body in the cold

COLD weather has swept over the UK, with the Met Office issuing an amber weather warning.

Strong winds and blizzards are set to blight Brits this weekend, leaving us all to feel the chill.

Several snow and ice warnings have been put into place and temperatures could dip below freezing, forecasters have warned.

While you might have to put an extra layer on to keep warm this weekend, experts have warned that the colder weather could be damaging your health.

Most of us will experience goosebumps if we are cold – a normal physical reaction.

But here we take a look what really happens to your body when the temperature dips and how it could be impacting your health.

1. Infections

Infections like the flu get worse in winter months and the cold weather can exacerbate symptoms of the common illness.

The cold weather also affects our body’s ability to fight off infection,

Your immune system becomes less active and this can allow viruses to grow better within your nose, Prof Akiko Iwasaki, an immunobiologist from Yale University told the BBC.

2. Frostbite

Frostbite is damaging to the skin and can happen at any temperature below -0.55C (31F), the NHS states.

“The symptoms of frostbite usually begin with the affected parts feeling cold and painful.

“If exposure to the cold continues, you may feel pins and needles before the area becomes numb as the tissues freeze,” guidance states.

A person with frostbite should be taken to a warm environment as soon as possible, the NHS states.

They added: “This is to limit the effects of the injury and because it’s also likely they’ll have hypothermia.”

3. Incontinence

Pelvic health physiotherapist Clare Bourne said the cold weather can wreak havoc on your pelvic floor, and subsequently lead to issues with incontinence.

Research from female technology brand Elvie found that 45 per cent of British women need a wee more when it’s cold.

Clare explained: “When you’re cold, blood vessels constrict to get more blood and warmth to our vital organs.

“This means that your blood pressure increases temporarily and to control our blood pressure the kidneys filter out any excess fluid, which results in us needing to pass urine more frequently.

“We get the urge to do a wee when the bladder sends a message to the brain to say there is urine present. This initially occurs before our bladder is totally full so we have time to find a toilet.

“If we repeatedly ignore the urge to go and spend long periods of time holding in urine this can lead to pelvic floor tension, which can lead to other symptoms.”

4. Asthma

Experts at Asthma UK say that winter can be ​a dangerous time for people with asthma as chilly weather, colds and flu, chest infections and mould are more common and can trigger life-threatening asthma attacks.

They explained that these attacks cause airways to become inflamed, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and struggling to breathe.

“Make sure you carry your reliever inhaler (usually blue) with you at all times and keep taking their regular preventer inhaler (usually brown) as prescribed. ​

The simple scarf could also save your life.

“Do a ‘scarfie’ – wrapping a scarf loosely over your nose and mouth to help warm up the air before they breathe it in, ​as cold air is another asthma attack trigger.

“It could also be helpful to stick to indoor activities when the weather is particularly cold”, they advise.

5. Heart attack

People exposed to cold weather are more likely to suffer a heart attack, a recent study revealed.

Researchers from Lund University in Sweden found that the average number of heart attacks per day was significantly higher when the weather was cold compared to when the weather was warm.

On a day-to-day basis it translated to four more heart attacks per day when the average temperature was below zero.

It is thought the risk of heart attacks is higher in cold weather because the body responds to feeling chilly by restricting superficial blood vessels.

This decreases how warm the skin is and increases blood flow through the arteries.

The body also begins to shiver and your heart rate increases to keep you warm.

But these responses can add extra stress on your heart.

6. Itchy scalp

With the temperature getting lower – the central heating usually gets turned on, creating the perfect environment for dandruff to thrive

For many, dandruff occurs when the microbiome of their scalp becomes imbalanced, Philip Kingsley Brand President and Consultant Trichologist Anabel Kingsley say.

They explained: ” Yeasts naturally live on our scalps, and usually do not cause any problems. However, when a certain species of yeast called the Malassezia yeasts overgrow, this can cause skin cells to divide too rapidly – leading to tell-take flakes and itching.

“Malassezia yeasts thrive in an oily environment, and so are likely to overgrow if you shampoo infrequently or have a naturally oily scalp.  However, it is also thought that some people’s scalps are simply sensitive to normal levels of these yeasts.”

7. Blood clots

Sudden changes in temperature cause thermal stress for the body – which has to work harder to maintain its constant temperature.

In particular, research has shown this makes it more likely for people to suffer from dangerous blood clots during winter.

Study authors, from a hospital in Nice, France, suggested that respiratory tract infections more common in winter might make patients more vulnerable to blood clots.

They also suggested that chilly weather might make the blood vessels constrict, making it more likely that blood clots will form.