To wish people would stop saying “just put a jumper on”?

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There have been sooo many thread over the years with people saying how no one really needs heating - how e.g. 16 degrees is positively sweltering - and if you feel the cold you should just put a jumper on and a bit of cold never hurt anyone…

This is complete rubbish and I think this myth needs to be debunked. It’s not helpful. Of course many people are being forced to have their heating off but that does not mean this is good for their physical or mental health.

I was prompted to start this thread as I was listening to a radio 4 science programme that tackled this topic head on. In summary:

• when we get really cold (e.g. a room at 10 degrees) our body has to work really hard to keep our core warm and this places great strain on our body - increased heart rate, blood pressure, decreased congnitive ability, etc;

• surprisingly, for a lot of people 23 degrees is the right temperature if you are just sitting around - this does not surprise me as if I am working from home, if I have my thermostat set to 19.5 degrees, I still have to wear ugg slippers and a big jumper;

• getting chilled does make you likely to get sick - this is because we are constantly being exposed to viruses, which we do fight off (the cold virus in particular) but when we get chilled our body’s immune response is severely impaired.

Genuinely it depends entirely on the person. It’s currently 18 degrees in my living room. Im perfectly warm sitting here in joggers, a vest top and hoodie. I’ve never put my thermostat higher than 18. When my mum comes round she says it’s cold. We’re all different.

Why are you annoyed with people speaking common sense, and stating the obvious?

What an odd thread.

They lit fires

Wish people would stop saying the temp that suits them is the right one.

23 degrees would be too hot for me.

I'm not too cold at 15 either.

Suit yourself

One thing I would say though is that so far, the weather has been milder than usual at this time of year

Yup completely agree,its like there are people who normalize the mess not just this but many other govs have allowed to happen, I have health condition which makes me cold sensitive,not disabling condition enough to get PIP but i still need heating on when my husband is completely fine in a t shirt while i wear 3 layers. Another one i cant stand is get an electric blanket-yeah thats great advice if you have children,especially little ones in the house.

I do think "we" have got used to over heated homes and wearing more or less summer clothes all round. Some people could put a jumper on and reduce their energy use, but yes, the suggestion that you can use jumpers instead of heating all winter is not helpful.

I work in school and we haven't managed to get the heating working yet after half term. It's not particularly cold here but people are complaining, without a cardigan in sight.

Even though I've owned horses on and off for years, I still fret about the littlest one being out in the wet/cold. He has shelter but I could win-win here by having him move into the front room for pony cuddles on tap. DD would be thrilled, DH not so much

But I am sure it’s not 10 degrees inside your house?

We are all different, @Topgub - but I am always right! 😉

By not sitting on their bums all day in front if a laptop.

23 degrees???? That’s insanely hot! I question that healthy people would get ill without their heating this high - I’ve never had mine above 20 and I feel the cold.

You are hardcore! My heating came on for a couple of hours. I'm also wearing a blanket and a dog and my feet are cold. I'll be looking out my wrist warmers.

We currently have the thermostat at 20 because we have elderly MIL and I have been roasting all day.

Wood fires, the judicious use of charcoal, and coal.

Me too. Boiling. Heat on maybe when its really cold outside. Yesterday was 7 degress outside but inside fine. Prob 15 degrees. I do think it depends on how active you are too. I sleep with windows open all year.

About 15 indoors works for me. If I get chilly I'll put a jumper on. We're pretty well adapted to survive moderate temperature changes. I don't think a healthy person will suffer any adverse effects from being told to wear a jumper because it's a bit nippy.

Honestly, a jumper doesn’t sort it for me as my nose gets really cold. I’m comfortable at about 20 degrees.

Wearing a balaclava indoors might be a bit eccentric?

We should be considering the environmental implications of overheating too.

The earliest agreed controlled use of fire by humans was in the Med/North Africa/rest of Africa . So still in fairly warm places. Well before human migration North. However I’m willing to bet a lot of money they weren’t sitting in an ambient temperature of 23 using fire!

It’s probable that around 18-23 is pretty perfect. Just under malarial temperatures and over getting cold, which conserves calories and resources.

what no one is saying, and it’s huge, when people’s diets are affected by poverty, and they also can’t heat their homes, it really will affect health. Chubby people who can eat as they wish wont feel the cold as much as slim people who are eating right. It’s fairly well known in survival situations that being a short, slightly overweight woman is ideal.

No idea how warm it is inside was chilly when I got changed into pjs but am nice and warm now I don’t like being too warm. I don’t like to think that anyone is cold, I’d genuinely put the heating on if i was cold though.

Yes, I'm really surprised that you think 23 degrees is a normal temperature if you are just sitting around! I sit around nearly all of the time and I get sweaty, flushed and uncomfortable if the heating goes above 20.

Agree OP, for me it isn't just a case of putting clothes on, I've got severe asthma, made much worse by breathing in cold air.

Yes but clothes were by far the most important factor. A fire only does so much if the house is draughty, badly insulated or too big a space to be heated by an inefficient fireplace. Fuel was always expensive.
Multiple layers of wool for most people, fur lined gowns for the rich…

Can't help wondering how humans evolved over 1000s of years without central heating.
Well, they died a lot younger.
I love that we finally have realistic conversation.