Winter in Japan, heat shock, and the importance of insulation

Have you ever heard the term "heat shock"? It sounds dramatic, but it refers to a very real medical risk. Heat shock happens when your body experiences a sudden temperature change (for example when you leave a warm living room and walk into a cold bathroom) which I think is a very real issue in a lot of Japanese houses/apartments. It can cause sharp spikes or drops in blood pressure, and for elderly people, the shock can trigger fainting, heart attacks or strokes. Until I'd read a recent survey from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, I don't think I had considered how serious it can be.

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Tokyo's survey found that around 40 percent of people living with elderly family members worry about heat shock in winter, and about 80 percent of them say they would be willing to pay money to fix the issue. I can understand why, since in my own house I can feel the temperature shift the moment I move from one room to another. The survey also mentioned that parents with young children are struggling with a different kind of winter stress, with around one in three saying their kids refuse to get out of bed because it is too cold. More than two thirds said they would pay to solve this morning battle.

The city is encouraging people to learn about insulation renovations such as double-glazed windows, insulated doors and improved wall or floor insulation, and people who have already done the work say the comfort level improves dramatically. The problem is that only about 20 percent of Tokyo residents even know these renovations exist. Many assume it will be too expensive or they do not know which contractors they can trust.

I think while paying to upgrade insulation can probably seem quite costly at first, the long-term savings can make it worthwhile. Lower heating bills, fewer colds during winter and a safer environment can easily outweigh the upfront cost. Even if you don't want to pay for official solutions, or maybe you're renting, things like adding bubble wrap to windows is a really good way of making your home stay a little warmer as we roll into the colder months.