\n\t\t\t\t\tAvoid big puffer jackets, keep feet off the floor, and fasten your coat before you open the door – a physiologist offers his surprising, simple tips\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n
The first cold snap of 2026<\/a> is upon us, with hundreds of schools shutting and temperatures reaching lows of -9\u00b0C in the UK. How do scientists stay warm through freezing temperatures?<\/p>\n Mike Tipton, professor of human and applied physiology at the University of Portsmouth, explains that cold weather can affect our health<\/a> most seriously if it causes a drop in body temperature. It can lead to hypothermia, increased risk of falls, and exacerbate heart problems, respiratory problems or risk of blood clots. Protecting against this, particularly for older people who are more vulnerable to the shutdown of blood flow to the extremities as well as more likely to have comorbidities, is crucial. While the cold doesn\u2019t directly cause illness, it can also potentially weaken the immune system.<\/p>\n However, there are less dangerous but still unpleasant impacts from the cold before your body temperature starts to drop.<\/p>\n New FeatureIn ShortQuick Stories. Same trusted journalism.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that your perception of the environment is very negatively impacted if you\u2019re shivering: if two people have the same temperatures, the one that\u2019s shivering will be more uncomfortable,\u201d Tipton says. \u201cThe temperature of the hands and feet are also particularly important inputs for your overall perception of cold temperatures.\u201d<\/p>\n The best way to stay warm, therefore, is to know if you are focusing on discomfort <\/a>or the risk of full-body cooling. Here are his best tips for both \u2013 that don\u2019t rely on turning the thermostat up.<\/p>\n Avoid draughts and keep your feet off the floor<\/p>\n When the body gets cold, its first defences are to shut down blood flow to the extremities \u2013 the hands and feet \u2013 and to shiver. This can happen if the body experiences a change in temperature, such as a draught. So if you\u2019re trying to keep somebody comfortable, aim to maintain the blood flow to their hands and feet \u2013 get their feet off the floor, because that\u2019s where the drafts are \u2013 and ensure they\u2019re wrapped in warm socks and slippers or under a blanket.<\/p>\n Move around or march on the spot for a couple of minutes every hour<\/p>\n Try to move about occasionally to help maintain blood flow to your extremities. It sounds a bit unimaginative, but if you can exercise periodically<\/a> for just a few minutes, it\u2019s enough to raise your body temperature enough to maintain comfort. Normally when you\u2019re sitting down you\u2019re producing about 90 watts of heat (equivalent of one light bulb) but when you do even moderate exercise (like marching briskly on the spot) that goes up to half a kilowatt \u2013 the equivalent of a one bar fire.<\/p>\n Wear a hat<\/p>\n This is a key item that can sometimes be forgotten, says Tipton. If you\u2019re otherwise well insulated you\u2019re going to lose quite a lot of heat from the head and neck, so wearing a hat or a buff can make a difference.<\/p>\n Heat the person, not the house<\/p>\n