Popular television doctor Amir Khan has issued a stark winter warning to UK households, urging them to adopt one crucial habit to protect their families from seasonal illnesses. The Good Morning Britain and Lorraine regular expressed frustration that his vital message is still being ignored by many.
The Vital Winter Habit You're Overlooking
As temperatures plummet in January 2026, making people more vulnerable to colds, flu, and other viruses, Dr Khan used his podcast with presenter Cherry Healey to hammer home a critical piece of advice. In a clip shared on Instagram, the doctor stated his case plainly.
"My key message, and I say this all the time and it drives me mental because people don’t listen to me, is ventilate, ventilate, ventilate indoor spaces," Dr Khan insisted. He explained that viral particles linger in the air, and simply opening a window or door can dramatically reduce the risk of inhalation.
He went further, advocating for air purifiers fitted with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters for those who can afford them. These devices are designed to remove dust, pollen, mould, bacteria, and other harmful particles from the atmosphere inside your home.
From Classrooms to Living Rooms: A Nationwide Impact
Dr Khan highlighted the transformative potential of this advice, especially in shared spaces like schools. "Imagine every single classroom in Britain with a HEPA filter air purifier in," he proposed. "Think about how many fewer children will get infected, how many fewer children will bring that virus home."
He believes this would create a significant knock-on effect, reducing illness transmission within families and across communities. His co-host, Cherry Healey, emphasised the practice's relevance at home, referencing the popular term "burping" your house.
This refers to the German practice Stoßlüften, which involves widely opening all windows for five to ten minutes to create a cross-breeze. This wind-tunnel effect efficiently flushes out stale, humid air and replaces it with fresh air without causing a major heat loss, making it ideal for winter.
Public Reaction and Simple Steps Forward
The advice resonated strongly on social media. One Instagram user commented, "Always got a window open! I knew I was right," while another lamented that basics like ventilation hadn't become common knowledge after the pandemic.
Others extended the logic to public spaces, with one person noting the "germ factory" atmosphere on steamy buses where windows are kept shut.
To implement this advice, experts recommend "burping" your home once or twice daily—ideally first thing in the morning or after activities like cooking or showering that generate moisture. This simple, cost-free action helps prevent mould, improves overall air quality, and reduces indoor pollutants, making your home a healthier fortress against winter bugs.
