Is it possible to actually get sick because of the air conditioner
'27.06.2018'
Source: Health24
In the office there is always a colleague who, even in the most severe heat, demands to turn off the air conditioner, referring to the fact that it is possible to get sick because of it. Is he right? Let's find out the opinion of experts.
The air conditioner is a real salvation in the summer, but in the remaining three seasons, many criticize the need to use this device, citing the fact that microbes supposedly accumulate in it and subsequently infect everyone around. Health24 asked health and environmental specialist Olivia Rose-Innz to tell the truth about the dangers of air conditioners.
Rose Inns agreed that using an air conditioner could potentially be harmful, but stressed that it is very difficult to prove it. Air cooling systems that are improperly, untimely (or not at all) can build up organic compounds - the same bacteria and mold spores that can cause respiratory tract infections in sensitive individuals.
“People who work in an air-conditioned office are more likely to complain of symptoms than those who have natural ventilation. Symptoms range from headaches to airway problems including a runny nose, but rarely have a well-defined cause. ”
Air conditioning hardly spreads viruses
Rose Inns says that despite the theoretical possibility, it is very rare to get a cold or viral infection associated with conditioning. Most often, according to the expert, people "catch" the disease in a closed office without a normal ventilation system or simply through contact with contaminated surfaces or people.
“By itself, the temperature set on the air conditioner will not make you sick - but it can seriously increase your stress levels if you feel uncomfortable,” says the specialist.
Allergy - yes or no?
Another opinion, in which the majority can not converge: the air conditioner allegedly can cause allergic reactions. Dr. Adrian Morris, an allergist, argues that air-conditioning systems cannot by themselves provoke allergies.
“It's just a machine that cools the air just like your refrigerator. You cannot be allergic to it, ”says the doctor.
However, according to him, the conditioner can provoke dryness in the nose and cause an exacerbation of chronic sinusitis. In addition, if the air conditioner is not properly serviced, and the filters are not cleaned for a long time, mold spores can grow in it, which, in turn, is quite capable of becoming a trigger for the development of allergic reactions.
