More than half of Britons believe their health is worsening due to the cost of living crisis, a poll suggests.
A YouGov poll of 2,000 people across the UK shows 55 per cent reported that their health has suffered in recent months amid spiralling bills.
Around eight in 10 (84 per cent) of those who said their health had worsened blamed rising heating costs, according to the survey commissioned by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).
Three-quarters (78 per cent) pointed to the rising cost of food and almost half (46 per cent) said transport costs were to blame.
Dr Andrew Goddard, president of the RCP, said the fact that one in two people are suffering from declining health when the cost of living crisis has ‘barely begun’ should ‘sound alarm bells’.
Everyone in Britain faces a mammoth hit to their budgets, with some having to make the choice between heating and eating.
Inflation hit its highest level in three decades last month. The average heating bill is expect to increase by around £700, food bosses admit prices could jump 15 per cent this year and fuel costs have hit record highs.
One in four of the people who said they were in worse health were told this was the case by a doctor or other medical professional, with stress seen as a driving factor of ill health.
Some 37 per cent of those in higher income brackets said the cost of living crisis had had a fairly negative impact on their health, while 16 per cent said it had had a very negative impact.
Of those in lower socio-economic groups, 37 per cent said it had had a fairly negative impact and 22 per cent said it had had a very negative impact.
The RCP said its members had reported treating a woman whose ulcers on her fingertips had worsened because her house was cold.
Another patient had been unable to travel to hospital for lung cancer tests and treatment.
Medics have reported that people’s asthma and other lung conditions were made worse by exposure to mould in poor quality council housing.
The RCP said health inequalities have long-existed but the rising cost of living has exacerbated them.
