Air conditioning gives you a healthy summer? Air conditioning may also be "draining" your health...

The summer heat is unbearable, and you don't want to go out, but just want to stay in the room with the air conditioner on? It is said that "air conditioning gives us life in summer", but many summer diseases are also caused by air conditioning. While enjoying the coolness indoors, we also need to be alert to the possible health risks, especially the so-called "air conditioning disease".

In fact, there is no medical disease called "air-conditioning disease". It is a sociologically diagnosed disease name. Air-conditioning-induced discomfort or related diseases are usually called air-conditioning diseases. This phenomenon is particularly common in hot seasons. When people enter the indoor air-conditioned environment from the hot outdoor environment, the body cannot quickly adapt to the temperature change, which leads to a series of health problems. These problems include respiratory diseases, allergic reactions, muscle and joint pain, etc. The low temperature and dry air in the air-conditioned environment will dry out the nasal mucosa, leading to a decrease in immunity, making people more susceptible to colds, coughs and sore throats. At the same time, being in an air-conditioned environment for a long time may also cause problems such as dry skin and itching.

In addition, if the air-conditioning system is not cleaned regularly, the internal filters and pipes will accumulate dust, mold and other allergens. These tiny particles will be blown into the air with the cold wind, which can easily cause allergic rhinitis, asthma and other respiratory diseases.

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01Why do people get air-conditioning disease ?

1. Rapid temperature changes

The core problem of air-conditioning disease lies in the rapid change of temperature. When you go from the hot outdoor environment to the lower temperature indoor environment, the body needs to adapt to the drastic temperature change in a short period of time. This sudden temperature jump will cause the skin pores to close quickly, blood vessels to contract and blood pressure to rise. These physiological reactions of the body make it difficult for our circulatory system and heat regulation system to adjust immediately, which in turn causes headaches, dry throat, chest tightness and other discomfort symptoms.

2. Closed environment

Air-conditioned rooms are tightly sealed, and the vents and heat sinks of air conditioners are prone to accumulate dust, mites, etc. Once these impurities and allergens are blown out with the air from the air conditioner, and the indoor environment is closed and airtight, they will pose a serious health threat to people with allergic rhinitis, asthma, allergic skin diseases and other diseases. In addition, in a closed environment, the air circulation is poor, the humidity and temperature are suitable, and pathogens such as bacteria and viruses are also easy to breed and spread. In this case, not only respiratory infections can occur, but also various allergic reactions and skin problems may occur, causing the body to show a series of discomfort symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, coughing, sore throat, etc.

3. Stress on the immune system

Spending a long time in a cold environment can have a significant impact on our immune system. When exposed to continuous low temperatures, the human immune system will be suppressed, and the activity and function of immune cells may be weakened, resulting in a weak defense mechanism. This makes the body more vulnerable to bacteria and viruses. This is why we are more susceptible to colds or other respiratory diseases in an air-conditioned environment. In addition, a cold environment may also cause slower blood circulation and a slower metabolism, which further weakens immunity. Spending a long time in such an environment, especially in a poorly ventilated air-conditioned room, pathogens are more likely to accumulate and spread, increasing the risk of infection.

02What are the symptoms of air-conditioning disease ?

Symptoms of air conditioning sickness vary, with common symptoms including headache, sore throat, dry throat, muscle aches, fatigue, etc. These symptoms may gradually appear after exposure to excessively cold air, and may vary from person to person. It is worth noting that staying in an air-conditioned room for a long time will affect the body's own adaptation and regulation mechanisms, thereby aggravating the symptoms.

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03How should we prevent air-conditioning disease ?

1. Reasonable temperature adjustment: It is very important to maintain a suitable indoor temperature. In summer, the indoor temperature is best controlled at around 26-28 degrees Celsius, and the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is preferably within 5 degrees Celsius to avoid a large temperature difference with the outdoor temperature.

2. Pay attention to indoor hygiene and ventilate regularly: clean up discarded items in time to prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. Open windows regularly to ventilate and allow fresh air to enter the room, which helps improve air quality and circulation.

3. Moderately increase the humidity: Use a humidifier in the air-conditioned room to maintain the indoor humidity between 40%-60%, which will help alleviate discomfort such as dry throat.

4. Control the usage time: Continuous use of air conditioning for a long time can easily cause physical discomfort. Turn off the air conditioner every once in a while to give the body some chance to adapt to the outdoor environment.

5. Scientific hydration: It is easy to neglect water intake in an air-conditioned room. Drinking more water can help maintain the body's water balance and reduce physical discomfort symptoms.

6. Moderate exercise: Appropriate exercise keeps the body's functions active and helps improve the body's ability to adapt to the environment.

7. Eye care: Long-term use of air conditioning can easily cause fatigue and dryness in the eyes. Close your eyes and rest at the right time, or use eye drops to relieve discomfort.

Professional medical treatment and precautions: If you have serious health problems, such as difficulty breathing, persistent headaches, etc., you should seek medical attention immediately. The doctor can provide you with appropriate medical advice based on the symptoms. At the same time, there are large individual differences, and different people have different adaptability to air conditioning, so when using air conditioning, you need to make appropriate adjustments based on your own situation.

As a health problem related to air conditioning, summer air conditioning disease requires us to maintain a healthy balance while pursuing indoor coolness. We can prevent the occurrence of air conditioning disease by properly adjusting temperature and humidity, exercising moderately, eating a healthy diet and replenishing water scientifically. Therefore, while enjoying the comfort and pleasure of summer, we also need to protect our health.

References:

[1] Chen Jing. Beware of "air conditioning disease" in hot summer[N]. People's Political Consultative Conference News, 2022-06-29(007).

[2] Yan Sheng. There should be a “degree” for using air conditioning [N]. Health Times, 2021-07-29(014).

[3] Wu Darong. The heat is unbearable, so I lament the air conditioning! Remember to keep warm in summer [J]. Wish you good health, 2021(07):10-12.

[4] Wang Yao, Li Xuetong. Air conditioning disease must be prevented in summer[J]. PLA Health, 2019(04):31.

Contributor: Chongqing Jiulongpo District Science Popularization Creation and Communication Society

Author: Deng Rurong, attending physician, Erlang Street Community Health Service Center, Jiulongpo District, Chongqing

Review expert: Chief Editor of Jiulongpo District Media Integration Center (Tian Junying)

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