Paphos People

We are coming to Cyprus on health grounds as the winter weather back home is bad for my chest. We've also been warned that most Cyprus houses are built for the summer weather and can be very difficult to heat when the temperature drops at night in winter. Any good advice on what would be most suitable would be very welcome.

My husband is keen on table tennis. We understand there is a club at Emba so we're probably going to be looking for somewhere in that area. Any suggestions on how to start looking online before we leave?

All suggestions will be most welcome. Thanks.

Chrissy

I have COPD and thought that living in Cyprus would be far better for my breathing. I could not have been more wrong. The humidity in the summer months was terrible and the damp, mould and cold in the winter did nothing to help. Since returning to the UK my breathing is much better coped with and it has been only on the rare occasion that I can not go for a walk in winter.
Most homes in Cyprus have no insulation and no central heating and once the sun goes down they turn into fridges unless you spend a fortune to keep them heated while still allowing air to circulate to prevent mould on walls and in cupboards.
We had friends who built their own and incorporated insulation and central heating so they are very comfortable all year round so unless you can find something like that you will struggle to keep warm in winter and cool in summer.
Your other question on here about health I can answer also. Your EHIC is only for holiday use not for residential use ( yes, I know many people abuse it but they won't get away with it forever and can face heavy fines if caught) if you are resident for more than 3 months in Cyprus you have to register with immigration and will have to get medical insurance to cover you. Once Brexit happens things will no doubt alter.
In an ideal situation I would live in 3 month stints in both countries.April.May and June in Cyprus and then October, November and December, those 6 months I found the weather ideal for my breathing.

Very good advice from Beverley as I also have chronic breathing problems and find the winter months (January - April) a problem and last winter started mid-December! I am restricted as to the type of heating we can use - no wood burners, central heating or air conditioners on the heat setting. We have found the best solution is to have a mobile gas heater and keep the patio doors/windows slightly open so there is always a source of fresh air. As background heat we sometimes use an electric radiator/convector which just takes off the chill.

I understood the EHIC is valid for temporary stays up to 90 days per visit.

I am amazed that you use a gas heater if you have chronic breathing problems.
Gas combustion generates copious amounts of water vapour contributing to moulds, dust mites, viruses and bacteria, providing a transport mechanism for these and other respirable particulates and volatile organic compounds deep into the lungs and thus into the body.

Terry

Hi Chrissy

My husband has chronic lung damage and chronic breathing problems hence why we are here....living in Cyprus....he found that the milder winters here helped his lungs a lot ..in fact in his first winter he needed no anti biotics or steroids at all that year...and even now 7 years on needs far less antibiotics and steroids that he needed in the uk...e would quite literally be dead by now he was so ill...had we stayed in the uk for their damp cold winters ...having winters here has saved his life.

What we did find though was that we needed a home with proper heating in it as the houses here as said are built with no insulation and do not hold the heat and really do and can become fridges in winter

The first place that we lived was in was a very small one bedroom, second story apartment that was surrounded by other apartments...yes it was easy to keep warm...but the noise pollution was awful ...as you can hear everything in an apartment block and we found it was not good for us

The second place we stayed in...was a small bungalow with a mobile gas unit...we where frozen half to death and the house was damp and running with condensation and mold...we decided that we would never live in a house again without proper winter heating after this experience

We now live in a bungalow with a wood burner...people come to our house to get warm on cold days...the dry heat permeates the walls and the rest of the bungalow...though we have put an electric gell filled radiators in the bedrooms as well...as we like a hot house to live in. The dry heat is perfect for my husbands damaged lungs.

So my advice would be to look for a home with proper heating system in it...not air con units or mobile gas units that cause terrible condensation and problems with mold ...which is terrible for lung issues

We are absolutely snug in our home...wood is very reasonably priced and I can give you the details to a good supplier...yes there are homes with central heating...but they can be expensive to run if on their own

So look around and find a home with a wood burner and central heating or gell/ oil filled radiators for your bedrooms...homes with open fires are no good...as the heat goes straight up the chimney...you need a home with a log burner

If the property has shutters even better...because you can open the shutters during the day for all of the sunlight and heat to come in...and close them at night to keep the cold out, like the Cypriot folks do

it was my husbands lung specialist who advised winters here my husband was so ill....and he was correct...the milder climate if you can get your property right...will absolutely help your lungs

Best of luck


Xx

SandT - Just a quick response, rather than using the quoted replies. I have to have a moist atmosphere in order for my lungs to take up adequate amounts of oxygen and central heating or air conditioners (heating setting) tend to dry out the atmosphere. We always have adequate ventilation so there is never the issue of mould, etc. So many people do not have any ventilation and the condensation on the windows and mould on the walls and furnishings is evident.

Interesting that you should mention particulate levels as that is the reason why we could never have a wood burner or open fire or even a BBQ!

Writing this separately to my reply just now regarding use of gas heaters as other people have shown just how different 'breathing problems can be' and it is up to the individual to find a solution that works for them. I have to wrap up warm and suit cool air.

I was 'given up' by the NHS in 2003, hence our move to Cyprus. If anything over the past 13 years the condition has not worsened in severity of symptoms but I do find they occur more frequently and that may be partly due to the ageing process as well as environmental reasons.

Fortunately not affected at all by the dust which can be a problem for many people with breathing problems, but there are warnings given out when the dust levels are above normal.