When the weather heats up, chances are you’ve enjoyed the refreshing relief of powerful air conditioning in your car or home. While it’s a luxury to have the ability to control the temperature around us, did you know that air conditioning can cause certain health effects?
Keep reading to learn more about the potential health impacts of AC and how to prevent them.
How You Can Get a Sore Throat From AC
You might assume your home air conditioning creates cold air. Actually, AC units work by removing the warm air inside your home and transferring it through a cooling agent known as refrigerant before circulating it back through.
While the AC unit is hard at work stripping your home of heat, it’s also removing moisture in the air. This means the cool air you’re feeling is also dry — which, over time, can cause a dry throat and sinuses that become irritated.
If you spend significant time in an air-conditioned environment, the lack of humidity can begin affecting your mucus membranes. These membranes are responsible for filtering out bacteria from getting into your ears, nose and throat. The lower humidity in the home allows bacteria to enter your throat more easily, which may cause a sore throat.
Another reason you may have a sore or dry throat from air conditioners is if the air filter hasn’t been changed. While the AC system works to cool your home, it also removes dust and other tiny particles from your home. However, if you don’t change your filter, the particles begin to build up and eventually get distributed throughout your home when the AC is running.
Potential Health Effects Caused by Air Conditioning
If you’ve suspected that your scratchy throat or cough could be from your AC running constantly, you could be right. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), negative health effects AC can cause include:
- Dizziness
- Dry coughs
- Dry or itchy skin
- Ear pain
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Muscle soreness
- Nausea
- Nosebleeds
- Sensitivity to odors
- Sore or scratchy throat
It’s important that you visit your primary care provider if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms to rule out other underlying causes. Air conditioning can also exacerbate preexisting conditions that require medical attention.
How to Stay Healthy When Using Air Conditioning
There are a few ways to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy without eliminating air conditioning. Let’s take a look at each.
Regular AC Maintenance
Regular maintenance keeps your AC unit running smoothly. If you notice any problems, or it’s been a while since your AC has been inspected, contact a technician for a tune-up.
Stay on top of changing out your air filter, too. How often you change the filter may depend on the type of filter used and your climate. Set a recurring order online, add a reminder on your calendar or determine the best way for you to remember when it’s time for a filter refresh.
Ventilate and Clean Your Home
While part of the air conditioning’s role is to filter the air in your home and remove dust and other particles, it’s important to regularly clean your home, especially if you have pets that shed. Dust and other particles can build up quickly, so maintaining a clean home is best.
When you can, it’s a good idea to open your windows or screen doors to allow fresh air to ventilate your home. Doing this will increase the humidity in the home and help prevent a sore throat from the AC.
Avoid Overusing Your AC
If you run your AC excessively, the air inside your home will likely be much drier than normal, contributing to a dry throat. If you want cooler air, consider using ceiling or portable fans to help circulate the air. Adding an air humidifier is also a good idea to prevent a dry throat and other health complications.
Helping You Breathe Easier
At AdventHealth, we care for you in body, mind and spirit. If you’re experiencing new health symptoms impacting your daily life, don’t hesitate to visit us here to find your nearest urgent care.
