Opinion - Taking care of yourself while reducing harm to the planet

Polar ice sheets are melting rapidly and heatwaves, forest fires and flooding events are becoming more frequent and severe. Future generations are set to be hit even harder.

Buying a bamboo toothbrush or becoming a vegan won’t solve the climate crisis. We need those at the highest levels in global governments to work together and make big changes.

However, our individual actions do still matter – the more of us that make changes, the bigger our collective impact will be.

What’s more, an ‘eco-friendly’ lifestyle can be associated with other benefits such as saving us money and improving our health.

This month, whilst it’s still a bit chilly outside, let’s consider heating.

Living where we do in the Northern Hemisphere, we rely on energy to produce heat for a big chunk of the year.

We’ve largely moved away from the open turf fires of yesteryear, but in the main, we still rely on carbon-emitting fossil fuels such as oil for heating.

In the UK it’s estimated that 19 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions come from warming the places where we live and work.

Ground and air source heat pumps are powered by electricity and work a bit like reverse refrigerators, transferring warmth from outdoors into our homes.

These will probably be a good option for lower carbon domestic heating in future.

The Republic of Ireland recently ran a deep retrofit grant scheme, assisting households to install air source pumps.

However, without a similar scheme here, it will be a challenge for many of us to afford installing one any time soon.

So, if heating our homes is contributing to global warming and fuel prices are high, should we just turn down our heating and shiver for the sake of the planet and our bank balances?

From an individual health perspective, no, this isn’t a great idea.

Living in cold temperatures makes us more susceptible to respiratory infections and worsens asthma symptoms.

It also increases our blood pressure, potentially increasing our risk of strokes and heart attacks – a study looking at 7,997 older adults in England found an association between raised blood pressure and living at temperatures below 18C.

Over the past winter, lots of communal warm spaces have opened their doors across Fermanagh and South Tyrone and are listed on the Council’s website.

These are worth checking out, providing opportunities for a cuppa and chat as well as free warmth.

Local libraries are also good places to keep warm and have free Wi-Fi access.

A great way to reduce our heating bills and carbon emissions is through minimising heat escaping from our homes.

The Energy Saving Trust estimates around a third of heat in an uninsulated home is lost through the walls.

Private tenants and homeowners on lower incomes may be eligible to apply for grants to install insulation and upgrade boilers through the Affordable Warmth Scheme.

The Health Improvement Team at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council can be contacted for information and to assist applicants.

Even small, less costly changes can make a difference, such as draught-proofing, bleeding radiators, getting your boiler serviced and turning off the heat in unused rooms.

Finally, let’s consider wood-burning stoves, which are increasingly popular. It’s undeniable they provide a cosy atmosphere on a wintery evening.

Wood can be relatively inexpensive and is a renewable energy source.

However, burning it releases noxious gases and particulate matter – particles which penetrate deep into the lungs, increasing the risk of health problems including lung cancer and chest infections.

We are lucky to live in a less densely populated area with low air pollution levels.

If you do use a stove, burning wood that’s properly dried and if possible, investing in an ‘eco-design’ stove model, this will help to keep the air clean.

Judith Pinnick is a GP who is interested in the links between health and the environment. She works at Irvinestown Health Centre.