(Press-News.org) Cold homes cost lives and harm the environment, according to a BMJ editorial published today to coincide with a report commissioned by Friends of the Earth and written by Professor Sir Michael Marmot.
The report highlights that every year in the UK there are around 5,500 more deaths in the coldest quarter of houses, than would occur if those houses were warm.
The authors, Dr Keith Dear and Professor Anthony McMichael from the Australian National University in Canberra say Marmot's report identifies three gains that could be achieved by improving the insulation in British homes. These are saving lives, protecting the environment and reducing health inequalities.
While elderly people living in cold homes are more prone to heart and lung disease, cold homes can affect health at any age, say the authors. Children are more likely to suffer from breathing problems and adolescents living in a cold house have an increased risk of mental health problems.
Dear and McMichael highlight that there are more winter deaths in countries with less severe and milder winter climates. This is because in very cold countries, such as Finland and Sweden, building standards have already been improved. Yet the problem in the UK remains severe, they say.
Taking action on cold homes, say the authors, is a win-win scenario. While saving lives and improving health, governments would also be tackling climate change.
The authors conclude that Britain "is saddled with obsolete housing stock many decades, if not centuries, old …these inadequate homes are a waste of energy, a health hazard, and (given today's levels of national wealth) a shameful relic for their part in fostering persistent, avoidable, social inequity." They call on governments to "heed the call in this timely report."
### END
Cold homes cost lives
Editorial: The health impacts of cold homes and fuel poverty
2011-05-13
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Trust a large factor in the emotional process of family business succession
2011-05-13
A new study from Family Process shows that passing down a family business is an emotional process, and key factors need to be in place in order for the transition to prove successful. The owner needs to trust other family members' involvement in the long-term plan for the business, and nurture a healthy outlook and plan for their own retirement. In the United States alone there are an estimated 10.8 million family businesses. Only 30% of businesses stay in the family from the first to the second generation.
Beyond business-related decisions, such as managing organizational ...
Provo Dentist Launches Practice's New Website for Increased Patient Knowledge and Interaction
2011-05-13
Leading dentist in Provo, UT, Dr. Darren Gardner, is pleased to announce the launch of his practice's state-of-the-art, interactive website. The new educational website was created in order to enhance patient awareness of dental health care and provide information on the practice itself.
The new website for this dentist in Provo offers a wide array of valuable tools and information that patients can use to better inform themselves of various dental health care symptoms and treatments. Patients can visit the website via the Internet at any time during their day. With ...
Young British men view knife carrying as a 'legitimate response' to potential threats
2011-05-13
Knife carrying is seen as a legitimate response both to potential threats and to the lack of protection provided by authorities, according to a study of young white British males published in this week's BMJ.
In a letter to the journal, Damien Riggs from Flinders University in Australia and Marek Palasinski from Lancaster University in the UK, say that while they appreciate the call for an integrated approach to tackling knife crime, their findings point to further factors that require attention in terms of injury prevention.
Their study also found that young men who ...
Galaxy NGC 4214: A star formation laboratory
2011-05-13
Size isn't everything... in astronomy, at least. Dwarf galaxy NGC 4214 may be small, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in content. It is packed with everything an astronomer could ask for, from hot, young star-forming regions to old clusters with red supergiants.
The intricate patterns of glowing ionised hydrogen gas, cavities blown clear of gas by stellar wind, and bright stellar clusters of NGC 4214 can be seen in this optical and near-infrared image, taken using the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) instrument on the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
A huge heart-shaped ...
BarcodeLabelPro.com Partners With TrialPay to Give Away Barcode Maker Software
2011-05-13
BarcodeLabelPro.com (http://www.barcodelabelpro.com) announces the free offer of barcode generating software, Accu2000 Barcode Maker at www.barcodelabelPro.com that allows users to get the 1-D version barcode maker at $0 cost when they check out through TrialPay offer.
"In a down economy, companies need to streamline and increase efficiency, so they can be more productive with every minute and every dollar," said Dr. Ge, the founder of halfpricesoft.com. "Accu2000 barcode generator is easy-to-use and flexible. We hope this free offer will put customized ...
Smaller proportion of Medicare patients hospitalized for heart problems
2011-05-13
Heart-related problems accounted for a smaller proportion of hospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries within the past ten years than did other causes for hospitalization, researchers reported at the American Heart Association's Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke 2011 Scientific Sessions.
The study, the largest within the past decade to look at hospitalization rates among Medicare beneficiaries, found that the proportion of heart disease hospitalizations is falling at a faster rate than those from other leading causes of hospital ...
Study gives clue as to how notes are played on the genetic piano
2011-05-13
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, U.S.A. (May 12, 2011) — Japanese and U.S. scientists in the young field of epigenetics Thursday reported a rationale as to how specific genes are silenced and others are not. Because this effect can be reversed, it may be possible to devise therapies for cancer and other diseases using this information.
The NOVA U.S. public television program described epigenetics as "The Ghost In Your Genes." It is the study of changes in gene expression that occur without changes in DNA sequence. Like keys on a piano, DNA is the static blueprint for all the proteins ...
San Antonio Remodeling Firm to Appear on KENS 5's Great Day SA - Lone Star Remodeling And Renovations to Discuss Home Remodeling Trends and Design/Build Concepts on the Show
2011-05-13
The highly rated San Antonio morning show "Great Day SA" on Kens 5 is known for highlighting the best of the best San Antonio businesses. On May 16th, 2011 from 9 to 10, Lone Star Remodeling And Renovations will appear on the show to discuss remodeling trends and design/build remodeling concepts.
Lone Star is a San Antonio home remodeling firm that handles both the design and construction of your project. Designs, material selection, budgeting, and scheduling are all streamlined for their clients, making the remodeling process much simpler and more enjoyable. ...
From a single adult cell, Flatworm crafts a new body
2011-05-13
A single adult cell from one of the most impressive masters of regeneration in the animal kingdom – the planarian – is all it takes to build a completely functional new worm, researchers have learned. The study provides the first hard evidence that adult planarians harbor pluripotent stem cells – cells capable of producing the diverse range of tissue types necessary to build a complete animal.
Distributed throughout the worm body, the newfound cells appear to have the same all-purpose qualities as embryonic stem cells. Such cells are essential for supplying the rapidly ...
NASA's Galileo reveals magma 'ocean' beneath surface of Jupiter's moon
2011-05-13
A new analysis of data from NASA's Galileo spacecraft has revealed that beneath the surface of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io is an "ocean" of molten or partially molten magma.
The finding, from a study published May 13 in the journal Science, is the first direct confirmation of such a magma layer on Io and explains why the moon is the most volcanic object known in the solar system. The research was conducted by scientists from UCLA, UC Santa Cruz and the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor.
"The hot magma in Io's ocean is millions of times better at conducting electricity ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
‘Molecular shield’ placed in the nose may soon treat common hay fever trigger
Beetles under climate stress lay larger male eggs: Wolbachia infection drives adaptive reproduction strategy in response to rising temperature and CO₂
Groundbreaking quantum study puts wave-particle duality to work
Weekly injection could be life changing for Parkinson’s patients
Toxic metals linked to impaired growth in infants in Guatemala
Being consistently physically active in adulthood linked to 30–40% lower risk of death
Nerve pain drug gabapentin linked to increased dementia, cognitive impairment risks
Children’s social care involvement common to nearly third of UK mums who died during perinatal period
‘Support, not judgement’: Study explores links between children’s social care involvement and maternal deaths
Ethnic minority and poorer children more likely to die in intensive care
Major progress in fertility preservation after treatment for cancer of the lymphatic system
Fewer complications after additional ultrasound in pregnant women who feel less fetal movement
Environmental impact of common pesticides seriously underestimated
The Milky Way could be teeming with more satellite galaxies than previously thought
New study reveals surprising reproductive secrets of a cricket-hunting parasitoid fly
Media Tip Sheet: Symposia at ESA2025
NSF CAREER Award will power UVA engineer’s research to improve drug purification
Tiny parasitoid flies show how early-life competition shapes adult success
New coating for glass promises energy-saving windows
Green spaces boost children’s cognitive skills and strengthen family well-being
Ancient trees dying faster than expected in Eastern Oregon
Study findings help hone precision of proven CVD risk tool
Most patients with advanced melanoma who received pre-surgical immunotherapy remain alive and disease free four years later
Introducing BioEmu: A generative AI Model that enables high-speed and accurate prediction of protein structural ensembles
Replacing mutated microglia with healthy microglia halts progression of genetic neurological disease in mice and humans
New research shows how tropical plants manage rival insect tenants by giving them separate ‘flats’
Condo-style living helps keep the peace inside these ant plants
Climate change action could dramatically limit rising UK heatwave deaths
Annual heat-related deaths projected to increase significantly due to climate and population change
Researchers discover new way cells protect themselves from damage
[Press-News.org] Cold homes cost livesEditorial: The health impacts of cold homes and fuel poverty