Contents
- Heat and air conditioning in the car. Thermal shock is your worst enemy
- How to use the air conditioning in the car in hot weather? The first rule
- Rule two: set the temperature in the car gradually
- Rule three: what temperature should be set in the car?
- How to use the air conditioning in the car: the five-minute rule
When the heat is pouring down from the sky, the air conditioning in a car may seem like the greatest thing in the world, but beware: if it is used improperly, it can be fatal to health. Colds, pharyngitis, laryngitis or sinusitis can be the result. Why is this happening? How to use air conditioning to avoid such problems? Learn the four most important principles.
- Frequent exposure of the body to large fluctuations in temperature can lower its defense mechanisms
- When we use air conditioning on hot days, it is therefore most important to avoid thermal shock
- In order not to expose yourself to large fluctuations in temperature, before traveling, try to equalize the temperature inside the vehicle with that outside – before turning on the air conditioning, open all doors and air the car for a few minutes
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Heat and air conditioning in the car. Thermal shock is your worst enemy
The quick transition from heat to cold and from cold to heat (and this is what we often treat ourselves using the benefits of air conditioning) is the biggest problem and the cause of colds, coughs and sinusitis. Frequent exposure of the body to large fluctuations in temperature can lower its defense mechanisms. Why this is so, in the pages of the “Wall Street Journal” explained a few years ago an expert in diseases of the upper respiratory tract, already retired prof. Ron Eccles, from Cardiff University (Wales, UK).
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As warm-blooded organisms, we are programmed to keep our body temperature around 36,6 degrees Celsius. When we suddenly move from a hot environment to a cool or cold environment, the body “will do whatever it can to defend itself against the cold”, says prof. Eccles. The blood vessels tighten (helps to reduce heat loss). This also applies to the blood vessels in the nose and throat, where bacteria and viruses often lurk. “If you looked down the throat, you could see how it changes from a pretty pink-red to very pale,” says Prof. Eccles, adding: “This happens in seconds to retain the warmth that we lose in the exhaled air.”
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When blood flow decreases, the number of white blood cells that fight bacteria and viruses also decreases. “If there is not so much blood flow to the throat, there are not enough white blood cells to prevent infection,” explains Ron Eccles. However, she emphasizes that a cold will not develop if the pathogens are no longer present in the body.
It is also worth remembering that switching from cool to hot causes more blood to circulate in the skin, nose and throat. This is how the body tries to eliminate heat. When we use air conditioning on hot days, it is therefore most important to avoid thermal shock. How to do it? The rules are simple.
How to use the air conditioning in the car in hot weather? The first rule
Moderate and gradual lowering of the temperature in the car before the trip will give our body time to get used to the new conditions. The best solution is, of course, to keep the car in a garage, under a shelter, or even in a shaded place. If you do not have such possibilities and your car often looks like a hot oven, before turning on the air conditioning, open all doors and air the car for a few minutes (until the temperature inside the vehicle is equal to that of the outside).
Rule two: set the temperature in the car gradually
Turn on the air conditioning, but do not set it to a target temperature. Cool the air in the car gradually. So, first of all, choose one that is a few degrees lower than the one on the outside. Then you can gradually lower it. Up to what level? This is what the third rule says.
Rule three: what temperature should be set in the car?
The temperature in the car should not be too low. In hot weather, the car should be at least 22-25 degrees Celsius. When setting the air conditioning, it is also worth remembering that the temperature difference between the car and outside should not exceed 10 degrees C. Also remember to set the airflow so that the cold air does not it was blowing directly on the face, shoulders and chest.
How to use the air conditioning in the car: the five-minute rule
The rule is to turn off the air conditioning for a few minutes (e.g. five or 10 minutes) before reaching your destination and turning off the engine. This will allow you to gradually adjust the temperature inside the car to the heat outside. This procedure also positively affects the air conditioning system itself, which can gradually get rid of the greater moisture associated with the operation of the system.
Finally, one more piece of advice: remember to regularly (at least once a year) check your car’s air conditioning system.
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We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time, we asked Orina Krajewska what, according to her, a holistic approach to health is. How to combine the three aspects – body, spirit and mind to enjoy balance and good health? You will hear about this and many other aspects of the topic in the latest episode of our podcast.