Air Conditioning Can Make You Sick: Here's How to Avoid It | Moore Heating
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Air Conditioning Can Make You Sick: Here’s How to Avoid It

Air Conditioning Can Make You Sick: Here's How to Avoid It

Have you ever felt “air conditioning sickness?” You know, that cold, stuffy, weak feeling caused by staying indoors under the influence of an air conditioner for too long? All you want to do is get back outside into the warm summer sun for the sake of your health and your sanity. This feeling is not uncommon. Although air conditioning is often prescribed to folks who are suffering from asthma and allergies, some of us wonder if it is doing more harm than good. Air conditioners do not cause sickness, but they can interact with our environment in ways that make us sick. Learn more about what causes “air conditioning sickness” and how to avoid it.

What Causes “Air Conditioning Sickness?”

Air conditioners and the cold air they produce are not inherently harmful. As we mentioned earlier, air conditioning can be highly beneficial to individuals suffering from respiratory issues. Air conditioning sickness starts where air conditioners and bacteria, fungi, mold, and mildew meet.

If your home or office is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria growth or a regularly unvacuumed space, an air conditioner will only circulate the sickness-inducing allergens that are already present. Air conditioners can help dry out a home, but they are not able to address the root cause of your moldy or messy walls and floors. As these allergens are made airborne, they will cause stuffy noses, sore throats, and in some cases, difficulty breathing.

Air conditioners themselves can be places for mold and bacteria to proliferate if they are not properly maintained. As air is pulled over the coils in an air conditioner, condensation is produced. This moisture can create an ideal environment for bacteria and mold to grow if not cleaned regularly.

Another cause of air conditioning sickness is running an air conditioner too cold. A few different things happen when you do this. For one, cold-causing viruses spread. According to WebMD, these viruses survive best in the low-humidity, cold environment created by an air conditioner set on an extremely low temperature. Ultra-cold temperatures also cause the arteries in the skin to constrict to protect the body from heat loss. This decreases the flow of blood, including the white blood cells that safeguard the body against viruses, making the body more susceptible to illness. Finally, ultra-dry environments evaporate the moisture found in the lining of the nose, making it more susceptible to infection.

Living and working in a very cold environment can also produce long-term shivering that gives you headaches, makes you tired and causes sore muscles and joints.

What Can I Do to Avoid It?

The first thing you can do to protect yourself from air conditioning sickness is to clear your home or office of any mold, mildew, or other allergins that are already present. After you have done so, prevent the growth of additional mold or mildew by addressing the cause of the moisture in your home. Next, turn to the air conditioning unit itself.

Schedule regular maintenance to your air conditioner, including a thorough cleaning and filter change at least once every few months. If you are still having issues with your nose and throat, consider some lifestyle changes. Drink more water to keep yourself hydrated and your throat and nasal passages moist.

If you are experiencing exhaustion, headaches, and sore muscles and joints, turn that air conditioning down! Your air conditioner should be set at a comfortable, room temperature. There should not be a stark contrast between the temperature outside and the temperature in your home or office, it should simply be cooler and more comfortable.

Air conditioning sickness can be frustrating, but there are many things you can do avoid it. Hopefully, these few tips will help you clear your foggy head and feel like yourself again! If you think an unmaintained air conditioning unit may be the culprit, contact your local HVAC company for a maintenance check. We would be more than happy to clean your air conditioner for you and discuss plans for a more regular maintenance routine. Stay healthy!