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When the heat is pouring from the sky outside, it is nice to take refuge in a cool, air-conditioned room to breathe a bit. Air conditioners are installed in shops, offices, cars and more and more often also in single-family houses and apartments.
Fashion for the use of air conditioning is becoming more and more common. But is being in an air-conditioned room favorable or harmful? There is no simple answer, because each of us reacts differently to changes in the ambient temperature. It is certainly not healthy to go from heat to cold room, as this usually results in a thermal shock to the body. Then it is easy for a cold or a sore throat.
How to deal with heat at home? The most common mistakes we make
Air conditioning – a bit of history
From a technical point of view, air conditioning is a process of air exchange in a room, which serves to maintain specific climatic conditions, i.e. an appropriate temperature and humidity range. However, in common understanding, air conditioning is associated with cooling the air in a room where we stay, for example, in a room or a car, in order to ensure comfortable conditions for work, rest or travel.
In the first air conditioners, the coolant was carbon dioxide. Such devices were already used in the 1920th century. After 12, it was replaced by fluorinated carbohydrates that could be used at a lower operating pressure in the cooling system. After withdrawal of the hydrofluorocarbons, dichlorodifluoromethane, called the R1987 factor, was used. It had good thermodynamic properties and slowly evaporated from the cooling system, but proved to be harmful to the ozone layer and in 134, after signing the Montreal Protocol, was withdrawn. It was replaced with tetrafluoroethane (R2011a refrigerant) – a gas with high greenhouse parameters. Therefore, manufacturers of air conditioners have been obliged to develop devices that will use as little refrigerant as possible. In Europe, from 134, cars were to be equipped with air conditioning systems, in which the R150a refrigerant was to be replaced with a new one, with a GWP index lower than 2014, but car manufacturers delayed this until XNUMX. Currently, tetrafluoropropene is used in car air conditioning systems.
Air conditioning – throats at risk
Angina is quite common in summer, because, for example, when eating ice cream, we expose the tonsils to too rapid a temperature change. It can be similar in the case of air conditioning, especially when we set the air conditioning to a very low temperature in the office or car. This, of course, is not the fault of the air conditioning itself, but too much temperature difference outside and in the car or office.
However, the device itself can also be dangerous to our health. The data collected by the National Institute of Hygiene shows that people working in air-conditioned rooms more often suffer from infections of the upper respiratory tract than people outside or in buildings without air conditioning.
It is also worth adding that improper use of air conditioning can dry out the mucosa of the throat and mouth. This is often the cause of unpleasant mouth odor, as dry air produces little saliva, so it does not wash away naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth.
To protect yourself from excessive drying of the mucosa, drink water with lemon in small sips.
Air conditioning – cool eye
Modern air conditioning devices allow you to set any temperature, which makes work, especially on hot days, more pleasant, but being in such a room dries the eye mucosa. The ailment can be more severe when we stare at the monitor screen for hours.
People who stay in air-conditioned rooms often suffer from dry eye syndrome, also known as office eye syndrome. The first symptoms of dry eye are redness, burning, pain in the eyes, sensitivity to light (photophobia), and a feeling of sand under the eyelids. These complaints occur when the cornea and conjunctiva are insufficiently covered with the tear film. This may result from being in a room where the air is dry (so-called sterile air), but also from an incorrect composition of tears or too little tears. When there are not enough tears, problems with visual acuity appear, which means that you can see through a fog. Blinking, which spreads the tear film over the surface of the eye, is painful. In this situation, it is best to see an ophthalmologist so that the doctor checks that the eyes are producing enough tears and that the tears are correct. On an ad hoc basis, you can moisten your eyes with drops, which are colloquially called artificial tears. These preparations can be purchased at any pharmacy without a prescription. Artificial tears are safe and not addictive. They moisturize the eye and protect it against discomfort and possible damage to the eye surface structures. A well-moistened eye can defend itself against allergens and bacteria.
Air conditioning – dry skin
Air conditioning makes our lives easier, but staying in an air-conditioned room for a long time dries our skin. This is because the humidity level is too low, usually around 35 percent, while the optimal humidity for the skin should be at least 40 percent. When we stay in an air-conditioned room, the skin loses water, which means it is dehydrated. This, in turn, promotes damage to the natural protective barrier, i.e. the hydrolipid coat. Such skin is less resistant to external factors such as wind, frost and industrial pollution. Dry skin may flake and may also appear so-called. spider veins, which indicates vascular problems. Dry skin resists moisture loss and begins to produce more and more sebum, which is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. This results in blemishes that do not always heal well.
Staying in air-conditioned rooms can be a nuisance for people suffering from skin allergies. In them, additional drying of the skin will manifest itself in the aggravation of existing problems. The skin may be red, itchy and uncomfortably dry. People suffering from skin allergies should seek help from a dermatologist or a cosmetician who will tell you how to care for your skin so that it remains in good shape. The key is proper hydration.
Dry air is also not good for our hair. They are brittle and get greasy faster.
Air conditioning – Legionnaires’ disease
Poorly maintained air conditioning promotes the growth of bacteria and fungi, which can be very dangerous for the respiratory system. Air conditioners are designed not only to cool the air, but also to clean it of dust, mold spores and other fungi. When the filters are contaminated, all microorganisms and dust can freely enter our respiratory system. The consequence of this are frequent infections, catarrh, runny nose and cough.
The most serious problem is a bacterium called Legionella. It is she who causes Legionnaires’ disease, an atypical form of pneumonia. Usually the disease develops suddenly. The patient complains of generally malaise, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, muscle aches, cough. Some people have a fever greater than 40 degrees Celsius. As the infection develops, the cough is dry. Over time, gray or blood-stained discharge appears and worsens. About 15 percent. untreated cases of Legionnaires’ disease are fatal. This season in the United States, a dozen or so people have died of Legionnaires’ disease. In Poland, the disease is rare, and if it does, it is usually mild.
Air conditioning – not just a bad thing
Well-maintained and modern air conditioning installed in the office, apartment or car is our ally. It allows you to free yourself from the overwhelming heat, which is especially important in the case of elderly people and young children. It has also been proven that since the installation of air conditioning in cars, there have been fewer road accidents caused by falling asleep at the wheel. Air-conditioning is also praised by allergy sufferers allergic to grass or tree pollen. An efficient air conditioner will be a barrier to allergens. People suffering from asthma should use air conditioning with caution in order not to excessively dry the mucosa, which may cause an attack of breathlessness or tiring cough. Fortunately, turning on the air conditioning is at our will. It’s an excellent device, but you need to use it wisely.