Extreme cold increases risk of cardiac arrest by almost 20%, new study finds

Temperatures below -9°C increase the risk of cardiac arrest by 18.9% for over two weeks, new research from Corvinus University of Budapest has revealed.

Alongside Semmelweis University, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, the University of Pannonia, and the National Ambulance Service, researchers analysed temperature data with over 116,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases over a five-year period.

The lowest risk for cardiac arrest was observed at 19°C, with the number of cases increasing as the temperature grew hotter or colder. 

While there was notable risk above 27°C, the largest rise in risk was linked to cold spells (-9°C and below) lasting at least two days. This impact did not differ between men and women.

The researchers also identified an important difference in how heat and cold affect the body. Heat acts quickly and only up to a week, while cold spells place a longer-term strain on the body, with effects appearing after three days and increasing the risk of cardiac arrest for over two weeks after the cold period has ended.

“Although the effect of the weather is weak, it affects us all. In recent decades, climate change has made our weather more variable, and our bodies must adapt to this. This is particularly challenging for those who are unwell. While we have learned to pay attention to heatwaves, research shows that we must also consider the effects of cold weather,” Brigitta Szilágyi, Associate Professor at Corvinus University and co-author told That's Health.

The researchers offer practical implications; during heatwaves, healthcare services need to respond rapidly, while cold periods require heightened readiness over longer periods. 

By incorporating these findings into regional warning systems, healthcare practices could also provide greater support, emphasising hydration during heat, and blood pressure management and appropriate clothing during cold periods.

These findings were first published in the journal Resuscitation Plus. The full paper is open access here 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666520425003315?via%3Dihub

Garlic and Its Role in Fighting Colds and Flu

For centuries, garlic has been used as a natural remedy to support the body during illness. 

Long before modern medicine, cultures across Europe, Asia and the Middle East relied on garlic to help ward off infections, particularly during the colder months when coughs, colds and flu are at their peak. 

While it is not a cure, garlic can play a helpful supporting role when your immune system is under attack.

Why Garlic Has a Reputation for Fighting Infection

Garlic contains a sulphur-based compound called allicin, which is released when garlic is crushed or chopped. Allicin is responsible for garlic’s distinctive smell, but more importantly, it has antimicrobial and antiviral properties.

Research suggests that allicin may help:

Inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and viruses

Support immune cell activity

Reduce inflammation in the body

This combination makes garlic particularly popular during cold and flu season.

Garlic and the Common Cold

The common cold is caused by viruses, and while garlic cannot prevent exposure, regular consumption may help reduce the severity or duration of symptoms for some people.

People who use garlic as part of their diet often report:

Shorter-lasting colds

Milder symptoms

Faster recovery times

This may be due to garlic’s ability to stimulate immune responses, helping the body react more efficiently once an infection takes hold.

Garlic’s Role During Flu

Flu places significant stress on the immune system. Garlic is often used as a complementary remedy because it:

Encourages immune defence activity

Has mild antiviral effects

Supports circulation, which helps immune cells move through the body

While garlic should never replace medical treatment for flu—especially for vulnerable people—it can be a useful addition alongside rest, hydration and prescribed medication.

Best Ways to Use Garlic for Immune Support

Garlic can be taken in several forms, depending on taste and tolerance:

Raw garlic

Crushing a clove and letting it sit for a few minutes before eating helps maximise allicin formation. This can be mixed into food or swallowed with water.

Garlic tea

Steep crushed garlic in hot (not boiling) water. Many people add lemon and honey to improve flavour and soothe the throat.

Cooked garlic

While cooking reduces allicin levels, garlic still retains beneficial compounds and is gentler on the stomach.

Garlic supplements

Odourless capsules are an option for those who dislike raw garlic, though quality and strength can vary.

How Much Garlic Is Enough?

There is no officially recommended dose for garlic as a remedy, but commonly suggested amounts include:

1–2 raw cloves per day during illness

Regular inclusion of garlic in meals for ongoing immune support

More is not always better. Excessive garlic can cause stomach irritation, heartburn or interact with certain medications.

Who Should Be Cautious?

Garlic is generally safe for most people, but caution is advised if you:

Take blood-thinning medication

Have stomach ulcers or digestive sensitivity

Are preparing for surgery

If in doubt, it is always sensible to speak with a healthcare professional.

Garlic as Part of a Bigger Picture

Garlic works best as part of a wider approach to health rather than as a stand-alone solution. Adequate sleep, good nutrition, hydration, and following medical advice remain the cornerstones of recovery from colds and flu.

Garlic’s long-standing reputation as a natural infection-fighter is supported by both tradition and modern research. While it will not prevent every cold or flu, it may help your body respond more effectively when illness strikes. 

Simple, affordable and widely available, garlic remains a humble but powerful ally during the winter months.

I am following my own advice and taking garlic. 

Helpline launched in bid to help Britain’s employees beat the office bugs

The common cold is tightening its grip on workplaces across the UK, as record numbers of Britons trudge into work even when genuinely ill in a bid to impress the boss and underline their commitment to the job. A recent survey found that half of workers had not taken a single day off sick in 2011 because of a cold or flu, despite falling ill with such illnesses on up to three occasions.

Help is at hand, however, thanks to Fisherman’s Friend – maker of the nation’s strongest throat lozenges – which has decided to take action. The company, which commissioned the survey, is offering FREE ‘SOS Kits’ to offices in need, in a bid to blitz those bugs and keep workers protected from anything that may stand in the way of a productive working day.

Containing hand sanitiser, desk wipes, a mini hot water bottle, ‘stay awake’ glasses (to keep any sneaky naps discreet) and several packets of Fisherman’s Friend, the kits are a sure-fire way to keep workers safe from any nasty illnesses spread by colleagues refusing to stay at home!

If workers do fall ill, the strong menthol and eucalyptus in a Fisherman’s Friend lozenge is perfect to help keep the symptoms at bay, and with more menthol than many of its rivals, it really is the strongest there is!

If your office is suffering from a sickly spell and is in need of some help, simply call the dedicated SOS telephone helpline on 020 7554 4496, clearly leaving your name and address, or email at officesos@rt-com.com. Fisherman’s Friend will despatch a free kit immediately, while stocks last, to help get your office back to working order.

Sick workers struggle in to work for fear of their jobs

The winter ‘sicky’ – that age-old term for when workers exaggerate cold and flu-like symptoms to get time off work – looks to be catching a cold.

A new study by Fisherman’s Friend has found that workers are now so concerned about lack of job security that they will trudge into work even when genuinely ill, so as to impress the boss and underline their commitment to the job.

Fisherman’s Friend, which quizzed over 1,000 adults, found that half of workers had not taken a single day off sick so far in 2011 because of a cold or flu – despite falling ill with such illnesses on three occasions already this year.

What’s more, the average number of days taken off sick due to such illnesses is now just two days a year – half the number when Fisherman’s Friend conducted its last cold and flu survey three years ago.

REGION PERCENTAGE
National 49%
North-East 25%
North-West 39%
Yorkshire/Humberside 33%
East Midlands 54%
West Midlands 42%
East of England 61%
Greater London 33%
South-East 54&
South-West 67%
Wales 69%
Scotland 66%
Northern Ireland 49%
Table reflecting % of workers that have taken no sick days in 2011

The dramatic fall in cold and flu absenteeism means that such illnesses are estimated to have cost UK plc a mere £4.6 billion in 2011 – compared with more than £9 billion three years ago. Workers’ top two reasons for battling on even when ill were ‘concerns over job security’ and ‘not wanting to let colleagues down’, which together polled more than 90% of the vote.

“Our survey makes interesting reading because the figures show the difference in workers’ attitudes to sickness and job security in just three short years,” said Rob Metcalfe, Fisherman’s Friend spokesman.

“When we carried out our last study, fears over job security were not a strong factor, but we are now several years into the economic downturn, and with warnings of even tougher times ahead no one wants to be singled out as a weak link at work.

“All we can advise is that people try and guard against the worst symptoms once a cold or flu starts to appear – such as sucking on a well-known brand of lozenge! That way they will feel better equipped even if they choose to struggle on.”

Workers aged between 25 and 34 were found to have had the greatest number of colds and days off in 2011, three apiece, possibly due to hectic lifestyles that revolve around work and play, leaving them more exposed to illnesses such as the common cold.

Workers in the North East were found to have had the most colds – an average of three – while those living and working in Northern Ireland have had the fewest, just two.

Workers in Scotland, Wales and the South West took the least time off when ill in 2011, with more than two thirds from each region declining to take a single day off for a cold or flu.

Meanwhile, the only major difference between men and women still appears to be their perception of how ill they really are when suffering with a cold or flu. Three quarters of men claimed they genuinely thought they suffered more than members of the fairer sex – with more than half of women agreeing with them!

FACTFILE:
• It is the strong menthol and eucalyptus found in Fisherman’s Friend lozenges that help keep winter aliments at bay. In fact, Fisherman’s Friend contains a third more menthol than its rivals. Menthol is widely used to treat colds, as it provides rapid relief from a blocked nose.
• Fisherman’s Friend’s RSP’s are 73p for a 25g packet or £1.39 for a 45g box and is available in leading independent and multiple grocers, pharmacies, newsagents, convenience stores and forecourts.