It’s likely millions of people risked getting ill by not switching their heating on during cold weather because of the rising cost of energy bills, a survey has found.

Almost nine in 10 households tried to cut back on their energy usage, while almost half of all British households, or equivalent to 13 million homes, said they did not turn on their heating when it got cold, according to Which?.

Of the 4,000 people the consumer group surveyed, those in lower-income households and those aged between 45 and 64 years old were more likely to go without winter heating.

More than a third (37%) said they were worried they were less capable of recovering from an illness now than before the cost of living crisis began.

Health experts warn that maintaining cold temperatures in homes in winter can place people at higher risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases like asthma attacks, infections, heart disease and strokes.

The findings come as Ofgem is set to announce its latest price cap for bills from October on Friday, with forecasts predicting it will drop to around £1,925 for an average household.

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One woman with an annual income of less than £15,000 told the Which? survey: “It has had a negative impact in all aspects of my life. I really struggle, we are always cold at home (but) I’m too scared to put the heating on.”

Another woman, with an annual household income of less than £10,000, said: “I have multiple disabilities, one being fibromyalgia, and I can’t afford to put any form of heating on which is causing increased pain.

“It’s excruciating and therefore affecting everything I do.”

The survey suggests that half of households on less than £20,000 (51%) are not turning the heating on when it is cold compared to a third (32%) of households with annual incomes of more than £80,000 (32%).

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Nearly half of households with annual incomes of between £20,000 and £45,000 (46%) and just under half (45%) of households on £45,000 to £80,000 said they did not turn the heating on when it is cold.

Those aged 45 to 64 years old are also more likely than other age groups not to turn the heating on in cold weather.

Which? suggested this was because they were likely to have more financial responsibilities than younger age groups, such as dependent children, but not the pension savings accessible by older people.

More than half of consumers (54%) reported wearing extra layers at home, four in 10 (41%) said they were using the oven less, and a third (33%) were cutting the number of baths or taking shorter showers.

Emily Seymour, editor of Which? Energy, said the findings of its survey were “hugely concerning” and called on the government to “act now” to help those in need.

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