New research shows that fuel poverty makes people’s physical and mental health worse. Researchers found that not being able to keep homes warm enough affects people’s levels of life satisfaction. But they also found that it impacts people’s physical health by causing higher levels of inflammation, measured by fibrinogen, a blood-based biomarker.

Researchers investigated how fuel poverty — not having enough money to heat your home — impacts health and wellbeing.

They found that not being able to keep homes warm enough affects people’s levels of life satisfaction.

But they also found that it impacts people’s physical health by causing higher levels of inflammation, measured by fibrinogen, a blood-based biomarker.

Dr Apostolos Davillas, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: «We know that exposure to cold temperatures is associated with increased blood pressure, inflammation and cardiovascular mortality risks regardless of age or gender.

«But until now there has been limited research into the mental and physical health impacts of fuel poverty.»

The research team studied data from a nationally representative sample of 6,854 participants involved in Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study.

Story Source: Materials provided by University of East Anglia. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.