Six summer tips to fight air-conditioning disease

It is a very pleasant thing to work, study and chat in an air-conditioned room in summer. However, there are dangers hidden behind the air conditioner, and if you are not careful, you may get sick. Due to the large temperature difference between the air-conditioned room and the outdoors, frequent entry and exit of the air-conditioned room will cause cold symptoms such as coughing, headache, sneezing, and runny nose. If you stay in an air-conditioned room with a low temperature for too long and wear thin clothes, you will develop joint pain, stiff neck and back, heaviness in the waist and buttocks, pain in the limbs and numbness in the feet, stiff joints, dizziness, brain swelling, numbness in the shoulders and neck, tinnitus, dizziness, and fatigue. These symptoms are called "air-conditioning syndrome" in medicine, commonly known as "air-conditioning disease."

1. Three common misunderstandings about using air conditioners

Myth 1: The lower the temperature, the better

Many people set the air-conditioning temperature in the air-conditioned room to below 24℃. In fact, the air-conditioning temperature indoors and outdoors should not differ too much, generally 5℃-8℃ is appropriate. When the air conditioner temperature is set above 25℃, the human body will be in the most normal thermal balance state and will feel very comfortable.

Myth 2: Not opening windows for ventilation

Generally, people will close the doors and windows indoors and outdoors when using air conditioning, which will make the indoor air more turbid. If the doors and windows of a room are closed for a long time, the indoor air will be unable to circulate because it is "stale". If you stay in this environment for a long time, in addition to making you feel weak, sleepy, and dizzy, it will also cause some respiratory diseases and skin problems. The survey shows that 51.2% of the audience stay in air-conditioned rooms for more than 5 hours a day on average in summer, and this behavior poses many health risks. Therefore, you should turn off the air conditioner regularly, open the windows, and increase air ventilation, generally every 3-4 hours.

Myth 3: The air conditioner is not cleaned or disinfected regularly

The survey shows that 29.6% of netizens have never cleaned the air conditioner they use. You should know that among all household appliances, air conditioners cause the most serious dust pollution. Legionella, mites, E. coli, etc. hidden in the air conditioner are likely to enter the human body when the air conditioner is turned on, causing people to suffer from various respiratory and skin diseases unknowingly. Therefore, it is necessary to thoroughly disinfect the air conditioner before turning it on. After use, you should also pay attention to regularly cleaning the dust on the air conditioner filter. If conditions permit, you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove fan dust indoors, and regularly soak the filter in disinfectant for a while to disinfect it.

2. Air conditioning can easily cause several diseases

1. Gynecological diseases

In life, the three groups of people who are most susceptible to air-conditioning disease are the elderly, children and women. Nowadays, many white-collar women work in company offices, where they are exposed to low-temperature air conditioning all day long and have to wear short tops and short skirts. Such cold stimulation is likely to affect ovarian function, causing ovulation disorders, menstrual disorders or severe abdominal pain, which becomes a type of air-conditioning disease unique to women.

2. Respiratory diseases

Many respiratory diseases are often caused by improper use of air conditioning. The respiratory tract is also very vulnerable under the influence of air conditioning. Once the cold air breaks through the fragile "defense line" of the respiratory tract, mild symptoms of colds such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, etc., that is, upper respiratory tract diseases, may appear. Air conditioning causes more serious lower respiratory tract diseases, such as pneumonia, which can be life-threatening if not treated in time.

3. Imbalance in brain neural responses

Symptoms include: dizziness, fatigue, general discomfort, headache, nausea, stars in the eyes, and forgetfulness. Reason: The anions contained in the air can inhibit the human central nervous system and relieve brain fatigue. However, the air conditioner absorbs too many anions, causing more and more cations in the house. The imbalance of anions and cations also causes the brain's nervous system to become disordered and unbalanced. The most important thing is not to go directly under the air conditioner just because it’s hot. If you feel dizzy or blurred vision, be sure to leave the air-conditioned room and breathe fresh air in time.

4. Joints are susceptible to cold

This is because the air outside is scorching hot in the summer and people generally wear less, but the air conditioning indoors is very strong and the clothes are so thin. Such a low temperature environment will stimulate blood vessels to contract sharply and blood circulation will be poor, leading to joint damage, cold, and pain. Common reactions include stiff neck and back, pain in the waist and limbs, and cold and numb hands and feet.

3. 6 ways to deal with air conditioning disease

"Air-conditioning disease" is not scary. It is caused by people's improper use of air conditioners. It can be completely avoided as long as proper attention is paid in daily use.

1. Pay attention to ventilation. When using air conditioning, you must pay attention to ventilation. It is recommended to open the windows regularly every day, turn off the air conditioner, let fresh air circulate, and clean the air conditioner body every two weeks.

2. Adapt to the environment. When you go out from an air-conditioned environment, you should first move around in a cool place for a while, and then move around in the sun after your body has adapted. Drink more water, which can speed up the metabolism in the body.

3. Do not use air conditioning at night. The difference between the air-conditioned room temperature and the natural outdoor temperature should not be too large, preferably not exceeding 5 degrees. It is best not to use the air conditioner when sleeping at night. It is safer to turn off the air conditioner when going to sleep. Doing outdoor activities before going to bed will help promote blood circulation.

4. Don’t use the air conditioner directly. When working or studying in an air-conditioned environment, do not let the cold air from the vents blow directly on your body. It is best not to blow cold air directly when you are sweating profusely, as this will cool you down too quickly and easily cause physical discomfort.

5. Keep your skin clean and hygienic. Due to frequent entry and exit of air-conditioned environments and sudden changes in temperature, bacteria attached to the skin can easily become blocked in the sweat glands or sebaceous glands, causing infection and suppuration. Therefore, you should take a bath frequently to keep your skin clean.

6. Do not smoke in air-conditioned rooms. To prevent the accumulation of carcinogens in the smoke and cause harm to the human body.