What Air Conditioning Does to Your Body (2024)

FAQs

How does air conditioning affect the body? ›

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.

Air contamination can become a severe problem that contributes to respiratory ailments in people. Additionally, air conditioning at work and home can lead to problems, such as colds, fevers, headaches and fatigue.

Conclusion. While air conditioning systems offer several health benefits, such as improved air quality, comfortable living environments, and better sleep quality, they can also lead to respiratory issues, skin dryness, and air-conditioning disease.

Air conditioning is the way to go in hot weather, and you should be aiming to spend as much time as possible in a cool-air environment. For those without air conditioning, taking cool showers or applying cold compresses to your skin can help. Although, the best option (if you are able) is to seek out air conditioning.

The cold air that comes from the air conditioner causes discomfort in the windpipe and causes cough, sneezing, stress on the chest and shortness of breath. Besides, the AC unit would circulate allergens and airborne viruses, if not maintained properly, and cause respiratory illnesses.

The ministry says that, as per the comfort chart, temperatures up to 25 degrees are quite comfortable for human body, along with the desired humidity and air movement values.

This difference was statistically significant. Similarly, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was higher with AC, 69.4 +/- 8.9 mmHg, than without AC, 66.5 +/- 9.1 mmHg, while mean blood pressure was also higher in AC, 84.9 +/- 9.1 mmHg, than without, 79.9 +/- 7.7 mmHg.

The relationship between air conditioning and arthritis is a chilly one—arthritis commonly becomes aggravated when the AC is cranked up. If that's not true for you, you're one of the lucky ones! Complicating the matter, air conditioning can slightly reduce the humidity in a room, which may help reduce joint pain.

Respiratory problems: Staying in AC for too long can lead to respiratory problems. It can cause problems in the nose, throat and eyes.

Is AC good for the skin? ›

Air conditioning can also make your skin age prematurely. Your skin begins shriveling as it loses its moisture. Consequently, its elastic properties reduce. Failure to replace the water that's constantly being drawn out of your skin tissues results in dry skin that's prone to wrinkling and creasing.

The answer is a resounding NO. While air conditioners may give your hair a momentary boost of shine and smoothness, they are also robbing it of vital moisture and causing long-term damage. When your hair is exposed to the dry, cool air of an air conditioner, it loses moisture.

Headaches and Fatigue:

Spending long hours in air-conditioned areas can contribute to headaches and fatigue. Cold air can constrict blood vessels, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain and subsequent headaches.

By upholding consistent and pleasant indoor temperatures, HVAC systems effectively mitigate irritability and anxiety stemming from extreme heat or cold. The result is a more relaxed mental state, improved mood, and enhanced cognitive performance.

AC is notorious for increasing the symptoms of low blood pressure, arthritis, and neuritis, making pain management more difficult for those adamant on using their central 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.

While your air conditioner can make you feel more comfortable, it can also make you feel sick without the proper care. AC illness can cause allergy symptoms and worsen respiratory conditions, significantly impacting your health and comfort.

Headaches and Fatigue

This is known as "sick building syndrome," and can be caused by homes with central air conditioning. To prevent "sick building syndrome," you should increase ventilation.