Malta - British Expat Forum

Does anybody who has arthritis, find living in Gozo, Malta better for their symptons than living in the UK? Do the damp winters in gozo, malta affect them or is it preferable spending winters over there than the UK, considering how cold it was this winter in the UK.

We find that we suffer more with arthritis during winter in Malta / Gozo. This is because although it is actually colder in the UK, you can at least use the central heating. Whereas over here, it is difficult to keep your house or apartment warm, due to the reasons Mark gave about how properties are built.

So for us, its winter in the UK, summer in Gozo

Thank you Centralad for your reply and it was very helpful. This winter was really cold in the Uk and we found that even with the central heating on it was still nippy! Thats why we wondered if we would have been better off over there this winter as it was much warmer in malta. I"ve been told that the barracks over in Malta had central heating which I found unusal as I never heard of central heating in Malta before!

Jiliana wrote:Thank you Centralad for your reply and it was very helpful. This winter was really cold in the Uk and we found that even with the central heating on it was still nippy! Thats why we wondered if we would have been better off over there this winter as it was much warmer in malta. I"ve been told that the barracks over in Malta had central heating which I found unusal as I never heard of central heating in Malta before!

Yes, when I served in Malta with the British Army, our Barracks had central heating, and that was in the 60's

Would that have been central heating by kerosine or gas? A maltese relative of mine told me about the barracks having central heating and I could not believe it at the time, as no one heated their houses in Malta in the 60"s! I bet it was great having central heating in those days.

Has anyone checked the average winter humidity in the UK?

I checked for Jan 09 and it was well into the 80's% while Jan 10 was anything between 80% and 95% probably equal to or even higher than Malta.

Surely a good quality efficient dehumidifier, together with a mixture of gas heaters and oil filled radiators, would be the answer? I know it costs, but surely it's for a period of no longer that 14 weeks.?

How do the locals cope?

Surely between the multiplicity of talents and brains on this site over the years, some expats must have cracked it?

Red

D locals would only use gas heaters or make do with no heating at all! Some maltese homes I have been into are so cold and damp but they make do with nothing as they say the bills are too high for them, brrrh too cold for me! Some use the oil filled radiators, and some use the heating function on the aircon! But what you suggested is a good idea, especially using heating with dehumidifiers and as you said its only for a short period of time and its better to pay the cost rather than suffer healthwise! Thanks!

Quote:

Some maltese homes I have been into are so cold and damp but they make do with nothing as they say the bills are too high for them

That might be a false economy; remember it's easier to heat a warm house up by a few degrees, rather than blasting out heat at a completely cold one. Plus, less problems/expense due to damp.

After the winter we've just had (down to -20C) Malta is bound to be better healthwise.

pumabob wrote:Remember it's easier to heat a warm house up by a few degrees, rather than blasting out heat at a completely cold one.

That takes me back, Bob - when Kay and I were in London we discovered it could take a surprisingly long time, even in a relatively small house with a good CH system, to get it properly warmed through. Brrr!

Yeah Dave,
My point being that once you get it properly warmed through, it's easier to keep it warm, because then you don't have that 'surprisingly long time' to wait.

Obviously it's not cheaper than no heat at all, but is definitely a lot more comfortable for a minimal cost.

Absolutely, Bob. Much the same applies to immersion heaters - unless you're not going to be using hot water for several days, it's more energy-efficient (and therefore cheaper) to leave them permanently on.

Suzy fell down stairs about 10 months ago and has quite a bit of back/hip pain since, with many visits to physio/doctors.
She went for an ICAT consultation today and was informed that she actually has arthritis of the lower spine

Consultant stated this was unusual for someone so young, 41.
Sorry, laughing at the 'young' bit

Anyhow, she mentioned moving to Malta and he stated that the heat would definitely benefit her.
Went on to say that there is no conclusive medical evidence to support this, but his own knowledge & experience convinces him that a drier, warmer climate is healthier for arthritis sufferers.

What are you saying? Does that now rule out Malta?


Red

Quite the opposite, Consultant was saying Malta's climate would be far better than UK.

Phew!! That's a relief! (at this late stage in the game) My dad will be glad!

Red