Conditioner: savior or "a silent killer"

The human body reacts differently to the constant use of the air conditioner. Experts called the most dangerous consequences.

Greece is a country with a very hot climate, and in the 21st century it is simply difficult to imagine an apartment in a metropolis that does not have an air conditioner, or even several. Residents of Greece, of course, use air conditioning to cool their home (office, etc.) when they are indoors.

It is necessary to pay attention to the regular maintenance of the household appliance, because otherwise you may encounter some unpleasant health problems. So what does air conditioning do to us?

1. Affects the composition of indoor air

Working in an air-conditioned home with poor ventilation can increase the risk of sick building syndrome. Symptoms include headaches, dry cough, dizziness and nausea, trouble concentrating, fatigue, and sensitivity to smells. An unventilated room (and the windows are not opened because the air conditioner is on) and stale air in it can somewhat increase the risk of contracting COVID-19, although health experts say that “the risk is small.” You can reduce your risk by changing filters regularly, opening windows, and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

2. Leads to dehydration

Air conditioners absorb moisture from the room while cooling the air. This can also affect the condition of the skin (dries it).

3. Affects vision

Lack of humidity in air-conditioned rooms can lead to dry eye syndrome. Always running the air conditioner in the room where you work (for example, at the computer) can cause eye irritation and itching. And even the clarity of vision may decrease.

4. Irritating to the respiratory tract

Studies show that people working in air-conditioned buildings have more respiratory problems (irritated nasal passages, difficulty breathing) than those working in naturally ventilated buildings.

5. May Cause Headaches

If you constantly spend time indoors with dirty or poorly (rarely) maintained air conditioning systems, you are more likely to get headaches or even migraines. In one study, 8% of people working in “unhealthy air environments” experienced headaches 1-3 days per month, and 8% on a daily basis.

6. Reduces the body’s natural heat resistance mechanism

Scientists have coined the term “adaptive comfort model” to explain why spending more time in conditioned air makes it harder to cope with high temperatures. An individual’s “ideal temperature” depends in part on the temperature to which they have been exposed most of the time. The more often you visit air-conditioned rooms, the less comfortable you will be with the heat and humidity.

7. Increases allergies

A clean conditioner will help prevent allergies. But an HVAC system can also quickly turn a home into a breeding ground for germs and allergens. Make sure you check (and clean) your air conditioning system regularly and keep it in good condition so you don’t make your allergy problems worse.

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