Have you noticed how incredibly hot this summer has been? In my city, temperatures have climbed over 93 degrees Fahrenheit, making air conditioning a necessity. Even with the rising electricity bills, many of us, myself included, rely on it to stay cool throughout the day. While air conditioning can provide relief from the heat, extended use might lead to some unexpected health issues. This guide will take you through the potential health risks associated with air conditioning and how to minimize the negative effects to help you make an informed decision.
Why Does Air Conditioning Make Me Sleepy?
It’s quite common to feel a wave of drowsiness wash over you when you walk into a cool, air-conditioned room, but this isn’t necessarily a sign of being unwell.
Essentially, air conditioning makes you feel sleepy because your body expends energy to maintain a steady body temperature. In a hot environment, your body works hard to cool itself down through sweating and increasing blood flow to the skin. Once you enter an air-conditioned room, however, your body no longer needs to work as hard, causing your metabolism to slow down. This reduced expenditure can simulate an environment that is conducive to rest, resulting in a feeling of relaxation and sleepiness.
In the meantime, air conditioning helps reduce indoor humidity and emits a soothing white noise, which can be beneficial for sleeping.
Potential Health Risks Associated with Air Conditioning
Air conditioning itself isn’t a direct cause of illness, but it can contribute to health issues by changing the environment around us. Besides making you feel sleepy, long-term and improper use of air conditioning can cause various other health concerns.
Dryness and Irritation
Air conditioning lowers the humidity in the air, which can cause our bodies to lose water more quickly through breathing and sweating. If we don’t stay hydrated, we risk dehydration. Plus, the dry air can dry out our skin.
Respiratory Issues
Dry air can be more than just a nuisance for your skin. It can also lead to discomfort in your nose, throat, and eyes, resulting in sore throats, dry coughs, and itchy eyes. What’s more, it may increase the risk of catching colds and respiratory infections by damaging the mucous membranes that trap pathogens.
Indoor Pollutants
While some sources suggest that using air conditioning can alleviate symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma, it can also unintentionally worsen indoor air quality. This happens because air circulation in closed environments can lead to the buildup of pollutants like dust, pet dander, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and various chemicals. Also, air conditioners that haven't been properly maintained may have dirty filters, clogged drip pans, and unclean ducts, which can breed bacteria and viruses, including Legionella pneumophila.
Sick Building Syndrome
Do you feel headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating after staying in an air-conditioned environment for a long time? The culprit of these problems lies in poorly designed or maintained ventilation systems, commonly known as “sick building syndrome.” In such environments, dust, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses can circulate freely. The good news is that leaving the building can make you feel better.
Musculoskeletal Aches
Exposure to cold drafts for long periods can lead to stiffness in muscles and joints, especially in areas like the neck, shoulders, and back. This is due to muscle contraction in response to cold.
Noise Pollution
Although appropriate white noise can help you sleep, if your room is not well soundproofed or is too close to an air conditioner, continued exposure to high noise can disrupt your sleep patterns, causing irritability and increased stress, especially at night.
Reduced Heat Tolerance
Your ideal temperature is influenced by the environments you've recently been in, so if you rely heavily on air conditioning, you're making it harder for your body to adapt to natural temperature fluctuations. When you go from a cool environment to a hot one, the sudden change can make you feel more uncomfortable and unwell, which can increase your risk of developing heat-related illnesses.
Health Benefits of Air Conditioning
Although air conditioning can cause some illnesses, it is not without its benefits. Most importantly, it can significantly lower the indoor temperature, proving relief during the sweltering summer months. This cooling effect not only enhances comfort but also helps prevent heat-related diseases like heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration.
In the meanwhile, a cooler and more comfortable environment can also improve sleep quality and make you feel less irritable when working and studying because of too much heat. Furthermore, if your air conditioning filtration system is functioning properly and well-maintained, it can filter out outdoor pollutants, thereby improving indoor air quality, especially during pollen season.
How to Reduce Health Hazards of Air Conditioning?
Thankfully, the drawbacks of using air conditioning can be effectively managed. This means you can enjoy the cool comfort of AC without major concerns:
- Monitor indoor air quality: Set up an air quality monitor like INKBIRD IAQM-129-W in your air-conditioned room to track the concentration of TVOC, carbon dioxide, PM2.5, etc. If the readings exceed the recommended thresholds, you need to open the doors and windows to introduce fresh air.
- Stay hydrated: Many air conditioning-related illnesses are related to dryness, so even if you don’t feel thirsty, drink more water in an air-conditioned room. Moreover, if the humidity drops below 40%, use a humidifier, especially in your bedroom. Typically, an air quality monitor can also tract temperature and humidity, but if not, you can set up a separate thermometer and hygrometer.
- Do not set the temperature too low: It's best to keep the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors within 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit (5-8 degrees Celsius). If you're unsure of the outside temperature, a good range for your air conditioner is between 75-79°F (24-26°C). Sudden and drastic temperature changes can cause harm to your body.
- Regular maintenance: Dirty filters can lead to the growth of mold, dust, and bacteria, so it's important to clean the filters on your air conditioner regularly. Also, wipe down the vents and grilles frequently. It’s also recommended to have your air conditioning system inspected and cleaned by a professional every year.
Conclusion
Air conditioning is indeed a good invention, but we can’t overlook some of its downsides, like causing fatigue, respiratory issues, dry skin and allergies, as well as reducing indoor air quality. Despite these drawbacks, giving up air conditioning isn't a viable option. Therefore, it is crucial to use it wisely. By installing an air quality monitor, ensuring proper ventilation, setting a comfortable temperature, staying hydrated, and keeping the system clean, we can enjoy the refreshing comfort of air conditioning while safeguarding our health.
