No matter how relaxing air conditioning makes us feel in the summer, it can still have some serious side effects on our body. reasons why excess staying in ACs can be hazardous to your health.
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Affects Indoor Air
If you work in an air-conditioned building with poor ventilation, it can raise your risk of “sick building syndrome.” Symptoms include headaches, dry cough, dizziness and nausea, trouble concentrating, fatigue, and sensitivity to odors. Forced indoor air may also slightly raise your risk of COVID-19. But the CDC says the risk is small. Lower it even more with regular filter changes, opening windows, and covering coughs and sneezes.
Dry Eyes
One of the most common side effects of air conditioning is dry eyes. When the air conditioner runs, it tends to reduce the humidity levels in the room. As a result, the moisture in our eyes evaporates more quickly, leading to dryness, itching, and discomfort. People who already have dry eyes or other eye conditions are most vulnerable to this problem.
Lethargy
Spending long hours in an air-conditioned room makes us feel lethargic and drained of energy. This is because the cool temperature lowers our metabolic rate and slows down the natural processes of our body. Furthermore, the lack of fresh air circulation can also cause fatigue and drowsiness.
Dehydration
Air conditioning causes the moisture levels in the air to decrease, which decreases our hydration levels. When we have dry air, our body loses more moisture through respiration and perspiration. The dehydration will result if you do not balance it out by drinking enough fluids. Prolonged dehydration can bring about various health effects, including headaches, dry skin, and dizziness.
Dry or Itchy Skin
Another common side effect of air conditioning is dry or itchy skin. When the air lacks humidity, it can cause our skin to lose moisture and become dry, flaky, and irritated. This is especially true for individuals with pre-existing skin conditions such as eczema. Proper hydration and using moisturizers can help mitigate these effects.
Headaches
Some people get headaches due to air conditioning. Changes in temperature between the cool indoor climate and the hot outdoor climate will cause the blood vessels in the head to expand and constrict rapidly, causing headaches. Moreover, long-term exposure to cold, dry air causes the sinuses to become congested and exacerbates migraines.
Respiratory Problems
Air conditioning can be hazardous to our respiratory system, especially in those with pre-existing respiratory illnesses. The dry and cold air will irritate the airways and lead to coughing, sneezing, and a sore throat. Patients with allergies or asthma find that their symptoms are worsened in air-conditioned spaces.
Dehydrates You
Air conditioners suck moisture out of a room to bring down the humidity and cool it off. This can pull water from your skin, drying it and you out.
Dries Out Eyes
The lack of humidity in air-conditioned spaces can dry your eyes. This can make them irritated and itchy and may even make your vision blurry.
Boosts Metabolism
Studies show more time in cold weather may help you lose weight. Your body may develop a greater amount of healthy, energy-burning “brown fat” as it deals with more frigid air. Air conditioning in hot weather can help keep you in a cool state, but you’ll also have to lower your indoor temps in the winter to see a real benefit.
Irritates Airways
Studies show that people who work in air-conditioned buildings have more respiratory problems (irritated nasal passages, trouble breathing) than people who work in buildings with natural ventilation.
Can Make Your Headache
If you spend time in indoor spaces with HVAC systems that are dirty or not well maintained, you’re more likely to have headaches or even migraines. In one study, 8% of people who work in unhealthy indoor air environments had headaches 1-3 days a month, and 8% had daily headaches.
Lowers Your Heat Tolerance
Scientists have coined the term “adaptive comfort model” to describe why spending more time in air conditioning makes it harder to deal with hot temperatures. Your ideal temperature depends in part on whatever temperature you’ve recently been exposed to. The more you hang out in spaces pumped full of A/C, the less comfortable heat and humidity will feel.
Pollutes the Outside Air
Older A/C units can release CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). This is a refrigerant that can harm the ozone layer, heating up the Earth. The U.S. Clean Air Act began phasing these coolants out in the ’90s, but there are still many in use across the globe.
Ramps Up Allergies
If you keep your A/C clean, it can help tame allergies. But an HVAC system can quickly become a home for microbial allergens. Be sure you have your system inspected regularly and keep it well-maintained so you don’t add to your allergy issues.
Helps You Sleep
Experts say sleeping in a room that’s between 60 and 67 degrees is ideal for the best rest. This is because your body cools down as part of a natural sleep cycle, so a cool room helps that happen. Sometimes A/C is the tool you need to get your sleeping space to the right temperature.
Saves Lives During Heatwaves
Although there are negative results associated with air conditioning, life is clearly saved with cooling when the heat is up there. A risk of becoming heat exhausted happens when the temperature of the body increases above 102 degrees, but it becomes quite worse when that body temperature ascends even higher to what is considered heat stroke.
Conclusion
While air conditioning offers relief from hot weather, it’s important to be aware of its potential side effects on our health. Dry eyes, lethargy, dehydration, dry or itchy skin, headaches, respiratory issues, allergies and asthma, noise pollution, infectious diseases, and indoor pollutants are among the common health concerns associated with prolonged exposure to air conditioning.
In contrast, air conditioners offer a valuable alternative by maintaining more natural humidity levels in the environment, which can help alleviate many of the dryness-related symptoms associated with air conditioning. Furthermore, air coolers generally operate with less noise and consume less energy, reducing both noise pollution and energy costs. They also circulate fresh air continuously, which can help reduce the concentration of indoor pollutants and pathogens, making them a healthier choice for cooling indoor spaces.
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