You’d be hard-pressed to find a home without air conditioning in Brisbane. They are an essential tool for Australian life. It keeps you cool on those hot, sweaty days and even warms you up on those cool mornings. While an aircon is like part of the family, could it actually be working against you and making you sick?
If you constantly experience coughs, colds, or runny noses, this could be a result of ‘air conditioning sickness’. It’s important to point out – it’s not actually your air conditioning that makes you sick, it’s usually a side effect from when bacteria, mold, fungi, and mildew build up in your aircon from not being cleaned, and then this build-up is dispersed out into your home through the air. Another cause can be just running your air conditioning too cold for long periods. Take a look at these common aircon sickness symptoms and quick fixes.
Sore Throat, Coughing, and Difficulty Breathing
Your air conditioning unit is a breeding ground for all sorts of pathogens. Air circulates through the unit which gets cooled in the evaporator coil. This is where moisture forms and mold, mildew, fungi, and bacteria can build which will be circulated out into your home. Call in your local Brisbane air conditioning specialists on a regular basis to clean and maintain your unit.
Headaches and Dizziness
If you work in air-conditioned buildings or stay at home with aircon on all day, you may have experienced headaches and even dizziness? While it’s always advised to get a checkup with your doctor, if you get the all-clear, it could be air conditioning that’s the cause. Try turning the temperature up a little on your unit and increase your intake of freshwater during the day.
Unusually Dry Skin
With your skin being exposed to cold, dry air all day long from an aircon, you may show symptoms of dry, cracked skin. A way to remedy this is to install a humidifier in the room which will emit water vapor and increase moisture levels in the room. It is also helpful to open an external window or door for a short period of time at intervals throughout the day to allow some fresh air into space. Also, make sure you are hydrating yourself with enough freshwater.
Symptoms of a Common Cold
While air conditioning does not cause colds, it can hasten the spread of viruses which causes sickness. Experts conclude that viruses multiply faster in cool conditions. The lining of your nose will also get dryer when exposed to continual cold air from the aircon, which makes you more susceptible to infection. Make sure your workspace and air conditioner are cleaned regularly, to minimize the circulation of pathogens.
High Blood Pressure
In extremely cold conditions, our small arteries in the skin constrict to reduce the loss of body heat. This produces a restriction of blood flow and can cause high blood pressure. If you experience this, don’t run your air conditioning at extremely cold temperatures constantly. Run it at a lower temperature for shorter periods and at other times use natural ventilation by opening windows in your home.
