Gintarė Anglickienė, family doctor at Vilnius family clinic “Meliva,” says in a press release that the device itself does not cause illness – the biggest impact is how it is used.
Read more At the impressive Norwegian meeting – Haaland surprised with unexpected souvenirs
Colds are caused not by air conditioners, but by viruses
According to the family doctor, one of the most common myths is that colds are caused by the air conditioner itself.
“The truth is that colds are caused by viruses, but improperly used air conditioners can indeed increase the likelihood of illness. Dry and cool air can dry out mucous membranes, making them less resistant to viruses present in the environment. In addition, sudden and large temperature fluctuations cause stress to the body. These factors can weaken the immune response, making it harder for the body to defend against infections,” explains the family doctor.
G. Anglickienė points out that improperly used air conditioners can cause not only a sore throat or runny nose. Spending longer periods in air-conditioned rooms can cause dry eyes, headaches, and pain in the neck and back muscles.
Air conditioners do not harm children
Parents often worry about using air conditioners at home where babies or small children live. However, according to the family doctor, a properly used device poses no danger to them.
“The most important thing is that the cold air flow does not blow directly on the child or their play area, and the room temperature is maintained around 22–24 degrees. It is not advisable to set the air conditioner to the lowest possible settings and try to cool the rooms as quickly as possible – it is much more important to maintain a stable, pleasant coolness,” says G. Anglickienė.
To avoid additional stress on the body, it is best that the temperature difference between the outside and the air-conditioned rooms does not exceed 5–7 degrees. Such changes are easier for the body to tolerate and do not cause sudden temperature shock.
It is also wise to be cautious in the car
The family doctor emphasizes that on a hot summer day, many people, as soon as they get into a very hot car, immediately turn on the air conditioner at maximum power. However, even in such a situation, it is advisable to act more cautiously.
Read more Approved resident evacuation plan: about 75% of people could evacuate independently
“First of all, if possible, it is advisable to open the car doors or windows and let the interior ventilate naturally. Only then can the air conditioner be turned on and the temperature lowered gradually. This not only reduces the load on the car’s air conditioning system but also avoids a very strong cold air flow.
If possible, adults, and especially small children, should get into the car only when the air conditioner’s operation has stabilized and very cold air is no longer blowing into the interior,” shares G. Anglickienė.
Improper air conditioner maintenance can worsen well-being
To avoid unpleasant symptoms, it is important to regularly take care of the air conditioner. If the air conditioner is not maintained, dust, mold, and allergens accumulate in its filters, which can exacerbate allergy or respiratory disease symptoms.
“A properly maintained air conditioner can even improve indoor air quality, but uncleaned filters become a source of various pollutants. Therefore, it is important to regularly change filters, perform technical maintenance of the device, and remember that the air conditioner should serve human comfort, not cool the rooms to the maximum,” emphasizes family doctor G. Anglickienė.
She adds that the most sensitive to air conditioning are babies, elderly people, allergic patients, and those with respiratory diseases. If fever, severe cough, shortness of breath appear after being in air-conditioned rooms, or symptoms do not go away for several days and worsen, it is advisable to consult your family doctor.
According to G. Anglickienė, the most important thing to remember is that the purpose of the air conditioner is not to cool the rooms to the maximum but to help maintain a safe and comfortable environment. A properly used and maintained device not only does not harm health but also helps to better endure summer heat.
Read more In Kazlų Rūda, a minor hit a man walking on the sidewalk
