Air conditioning at work, in the car, in the office, shopping centers, and more and more often at home, seems essential and very comfortable. However, there are also opinions that it is harmful to he alth and can cause he alth problems. Is it really? Check what is the effect of air conditioning on your he alth.

Contents:

  1. Air conditioning - dry air dries the skin and mucosa
  2. Untreated air conditioning - humid environment favors the growth of fungi
  3. Air conditioning dries out the eyes
  4. Air conditioning promotes legionellosis
  5. Air conditioning in the house
  6. Air conditioning in the office, at work
  7. Air conditioning in the car
  8. Air conditioning on vacation

Air conditioningis designed to exchange the air and ventilate the rooms and maintain the temperature at a constant level, regardless of the temperature outside. Air conditioning takes air from the room and processes it - it cools it and moisturizes it properly, and then releases it through air conditioning holes.

Modern air-conditioning devices not only do not harm, but also make life easier for people suffering from allergies. Equipped with special air filters, they remove dust, mites, pet hair or flower pollen from it.

Therefore, it is notthat air-conditioning is harmful to your he alth , only its incompetent use. It is not enough to install air conditioning in the house or building, but also to take care of it properly. Otherwise, it may be harmful.

Air conditioning - dry air dries the skin and mucosa

In buildings with air conditioning, there is usually dry air with low humidity. - This has a negative effect on the skin and mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, leading to dry skin and mucous membranes, and, consequently, to atrophic catarrh of the upper respiratory tract - says Dr. Iwona Leszczyńska, ENT specialist at the ENEL-MED Medical Center.

Air conditioning can contribute to the development of a cold and the appearance of symptoms such as sore throat, grunting, scratching, and obstruction in the throat - a foreign body when swallowing. Coughing, hoarseness and even shortness of breath may also occur in asthmatics.

To prevent weakening of immunity and frequent catching of infections, you need to properly set the temperature and humidity in the air conditioner,clean the filters frequently and change them periodically.

Drinking water frequently in small sips can reduce the feeling of a dry throat and thus reduce the risk of infection. In turn, the problem of nasal dryness can be resolved by rinsing the nose and sinuses with sodium chloride solution.

You can use tablets or lozenges or a mild spray to soothe a sore throat.

Untreated air conditioning - humid environment favors the growth of fungi

- Air conditioning itself is not hazardous to your he alth. On the other hand, he alth may be adversely affected by inadequately or too rarely cleaned, which will be felt especially for allergy sufferers and people suffering from asthma. In an air-conditioning system that is not properly maintained, molds can develop, because the humid environment is conducive to the multiplication of fungi, explains Dr. Leszczyńska.

- Air conditioning can adversely affect your he alth, especially in people with allergies and asthma. In improperly maintained air conditioning, molds can develop, and a humid environment is conducive to the multiplication of fungi. It is the fungal infections that are the most serious threats to air conditioning.

Air conditioning dries out the eyes

People who spend many hours a day in air-conditioned rooms often have eye problems. Dry air dries the conjunctiva.

May lead to dry eye syndrome. When the eyes sting, itching and stinging, artificial tears that moisturize the eye structures will bring relief.

Worth knowing

It is not enough to install air conditioning in the house or building - it should also be regularly cleaned with fungicides and the filters should be replaced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. - In order for the air-conditioning to be safe for he alth, it should be cleaned on average every 2 weeks, and the filters should be periodically replaced - says Dr. Iwona Leszczyńska, ENT specialist at the ENEL-MED Medical Center. - The water condensing from the air on the elements of air conditioners contains fungi and bacteria, and the humid environment inside the air conditioner is a perfect place for their further development.

Air conditioning promotes legionellosis

One of the more common bacteria in air-conditioning devices isLegionella pneumophilawhich causes a disease called legionellosis, which causes flu-like symptoms (headaches, muscle aches, fever, and eventually dry skin). cough).

Experts believe that 5 to 8 percent. pneumonia is caused by Legionella infection. The bacterium most often occurs in humid places, at temperatures between 20 and 55st. C - if it is sprayed, people breathe air into their lungs with contaminated water particles.

- Legionellosis falls on legionellosis annually in Europe. people. According to the American organization involved in the study of legionellosis, all cases of the legionellosis epidemics were caused by home, hotel and hospital air conditioning systems

There have been cases where an air conditioner installed in a public place made hundreds of people sick in a few days - says Dr. Iwona Leszczyńska. Legionellosis develops asymptomatically in the first days, only to attack 2 weeks after infection.

There are no simple methods of diagnosing the disease, specialized laboratory tests are needed. Mortality is 20 percent. mainly because of poor treatment. A properly diagnosed and properly treated disease does not pose a threat to life.

Air conditioning in the house

When the temperature in summer exceeds 30 ° C, it is hard to bear even at home. Therefore, we more and more often decide to install an air conditioner in our four corners. You can choose between stationary and portable ones.

The difference between the temperature in the air-conditioned room and that outside, should not be greater than 6 degrees. C.

Regardless of which one you choose, remember to set the right temperature. It is also important for your he alth that the air conditioning is set to the right temperature - in winter 21-22 degrees C, in summer 19-20 degrees C, although more important than the temperature value itself is the difference between the temperature in the room and the temperature in the room. outside - it should not be higher than 6 degrees C.

A large temperature difference between the room and the external conditions has a negative effect on the body, as it can lead to:

  • for thermal shock,
  • weakening the functions of the immune system, decreasing immunity, and thus increasing susceptibility to diseases.

- It is also necessary to turn off the air conditioning from time to time and ventilate the rooms. People using air conditioning should remember not to set the airflow from the air conditioner directly on themselves and not to sit in a cold draft - says Dr. Leszczyńska.

Air conditioning in the office, at work

According to the regulations, the temperature in offices must not be lower than 18 ° C. What about the maximum temperature? Occupational he alth and safety specialists recognize that the temperature in offices should not exceed 30 ° C. This is a lot, so the employer should install air conditioning in the office ormodern ventilation systems.

It increases the comfort of work: you work lighter and clients also feel much better in such conditions than in a stuffy room, where there is literally nothing to breathe.

Theoretically, air conditioning at work should be installed in such a way that the air stream coming from the supply ventilation devices is not directed directly to the workplace and does not cause drafts, cooling down or overheating of the work premises.

Air conditioning in the car

How to protect yourself from the harmful effects of air conditioning in your car? This question is asked especially by people who are going on vacation by car. A long journey on a hot, sunny day can be very enjoyable as long as the air conditioning is working.

What should you remember? First of all - do not get into a hot car. First you need to ventilate the vehicle and turn on the air conditioning after closing the windows and doors.

When turning on the air conditioning in the car, make sure that the air flow is directed towards the windshield or the roof (so that the air flow is not directed at the face and neck). The temperature inside the car should not be lower than 6 degrees Celsius than outside.

At the end of the journey, it is worth increasing the temperature in the vehicle to avoid exposing the body to large temperature differences.

Air conditioning on vacation

During holiday trips to air conditioning, you should also be careful in buses or trains. Also at airports, the air-conditioning can be strongly turned on, because cooling such large surfaces requires setting it to a much lower temperature than that prevailing outside.

Wherever you have no influence on the air conditioning settings, take something to cover with you, e.g. a sweatshirt, a scarf, and a blanket for children. When it is cold, you will cover yourself like on a walk.

Before leaving such a room, it is worth looking for a zone where the temperature is similar to that outside, but not that high, and stay there for a few minutes. This reduces the risk of thermal shock.

Category:

Allergies