How to avoid the side effects of air conditioners

Air conditioners are indeed our go-to in the months when there is absolutely no respite from the heat. Now, air conditioners aren’t the innocent lambs you think they are! There are many side effects of air conditioners on health, as well as the environment. Most of the side effects are because people don’t know how to use or maintain them in the first place. So what are the side effects? Let’s discuss them.

Five side effects of air conditioners on health:

According to Global News, these are the top five side effects of air conditioners on the human body:

• constant fatigue
  Research shows that people who work in air-conditioned environments can experience chronic headaches and fatigue, making them vulnerable to catching colds, the flu, and other illnesses.
• Dry Skin
  Air conditioning absorbs moisture from the environment, including your skin, if you spend many hours in an air conditioned environment. If you’re not pampering your skin with the right moisturizers, your skin will soon start to feel dry.
• Exacerbates the effects of chronic diseases
  ACs are known to increase symptoms of low blood pressure, arthritis, and neuritis. So if you already have an illness, an air-conditioned environment will only make it better and make you more vulnerable.
• Inability to deal with heat
  Suddenly going from a cool environment to a warm outdoor environment can be stress-inducing. This will make you intolerant of heat or high temperatures during the summer.
• Respiratory problems
  This is one of the common side effects of cold air conditioning. The effects of air conditioning on the lungs are fatal. Air conditioners have also been known to spread airborne diseases such as legionellosisa potentially fatal infectious disease that causes high fever and pneumonia.

There are many ways to avoid the side effects of air conditioners. Although we may not avoid it completely, we can definitely reduce these side effects by taking the necessary precautions. Some of the measures are mentioned below:

How to avoid the side effects of air conditioners

• Restricted – Air conditioners are not meant to run for hours on end. It’s like having a hole in your wallet. As mentioned above, the temperature of the air conditioner should be a degree or two below the ambient temperature. So keep your AC at 22-21 degrees max, let it run for two hours, then turn it off. The use of air conditioners has increased the release of HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) by 20-30 percent, which has delayed the recovery of the ozone layer by as much as 25 years.
• Clean AC Filter Regularly – Dirty filters can allow allergens, pesticides, and other particles into your home, posing a threat to indoor air quality. Exposure to these pollutants can trigger a host of health problems, including allergies, asthma, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.
• Annual maintenance control – Most of the time, the dust in the room and the use of powders, etc., can clog the air conditioner. This obviously poses respiratory problems. Personally, I have woken up in the middle of the night sneezing like a maniac! Therefore, having allergies during the summer can be made worse if your air conditioning is not maintained properly.
• adequate ventilation – Allowing fresh air in can help reduce indoor pollutants. Cold air is heavy and dense and can make it hard to breathe. Having ventilated spaces allows normal and better breathing. An air conditioner can be kept on for 2-3 hours, and when not in use, be sure to open the windows for fresh air. The body is better adapted to the fresh air outside than to the air of a heavily air-conditioned room.
• air purifier – Having air cleaning units can drastically reduce germs and pollutants that come from outside.
• the power of water – Drinking an adequate amount of water can help reduce the symptoms of dry, flaky skin. Personally, I wake up in the morning with itchy eyes. Even the sides of the nostrils and the bridge of the nose are prone to dryness. This is because the air conditioning absorbs moisture from the skin. It is recommended to apply olive oil or a moisturizing cream. Also, having a professionally installed humidifier can help solve this problem.
• Get Out, Inhale Fresh Air – Getting used to air conditioners makes outside temperatures seem even hotter. We tend to eat high-calorie foods when it’s cold. The summer months are intended for a leaner diet. Air conditioning may lull you into a beautiful sleep, but it only makes you lethargic. Nowadays even gyms are set up with 5-6 AC which completely defeats the purpose of breaking a sweat! Remember No sweat, no pain, no gain. Spending time outside allows the body to adjust to the temperatures and remain active.
• Have your car’s air conditioning checked – The hot air cooling process requires a lot of condensation and this can create a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Researchers from the Louisiana State Medical Center found eight types of mold inside 22 of the 25 cars tested. Air fresheners can mask the bad smell, but the mold still lingers.
• reduce overdependence in AC – The only way to deal with rising temperatures is to adapt to it. The summer months are bound to be hot. But our bodies have the power of adaptability. Think about this, if farmers in the dry, parched deserts of Rajasthan can live without fans, is it really hard to go without air conditioning for just a few hours?
• moving to a cold country – I am kidding, but surely you could go on vacation to a comparatively cooler place that will not only give you a break from your hectic and boring daily life, but also do wonders for your body and mind. The temperatures are going to rise and we can’t keep hiding in air conditioned rooms all our lives.

The side effects of air conditioners can be controlled by using them wisely. It’s crazy how far people go to not feel hot. Being too dependent on anything is never good for your health. I would suggest, embrace the heat and all the sweat that comes with it. Keep hydrated; include plenty of yogurt, fruit and vegetable juices in your diet. There are easier ways to cool down honestly.