Entering a chilled room after spending your day in the scorching heat is always a relief, but summer's best friend — the air conditioner — may not be very healthy for you.From incidences of allergies to posing hazard to people suffering from hypertension, heart disease and diabetes, doctors say the air conditioner can create several health problems. “Scientific studies have shown that excessive use of air conditioners may cause allergic manifestations in lungs and airways. Researchers have even observed a reduction in some parameters of lung function. And this includes the usage of air conditions in both home and cars,” said Dr Anoop Misra, senior consultant, Fortis hospital. An air conditioner draws in ambient air and passes it through a cold radiator. While it removes dust and particulate matter in the process, experts say they can make the skin and mucous membrane over-dry.“The highly efficient air systems which are mostly installed in aircraft can create sinus problems, which may affect the skin, nose and lungs. It may complicate the condition of people already suffering from skin problems or lung diseases like asthma. Those who snore may find their condition worsening,” added Dr Misra. The other problem that a majority of people face is that of the body reacting to sudden changes in temperature — for example when one moves from the outdoor heat to a chilled room.“Moving from, say, 44 degrees Celsius to 21 degrees Celsius, may cause the mucus membrane of the respiratory tract to dry up, leading to respiratory tract infections like cough, cold and pneumonia,” said Dr NP Singh, Professor of Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College. The problem, doctors say, can occur even at night. If the temperature is not controlled well, and there are fluctuations, the haemodynamics (circulatory profile) of body could get jeopardised, leading to fluctuations in blood pressure, heart rate, and even respiration. This poses a hazard for people suffering from hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. If the temperature is too cold, their blood pressure may shoot up and even affect the heart. And for those with low body fat, the consequences can be acute.Air conditioners may also result in bacterial infections.“The body does not adjust fast to changing temperature. So a sudden drop in the surrounding temperature may make one prone to viral and bacterial infections,” said Dr S Chatterjee, senior consultant, internal medicine, Indraprastha Apollo hospital. The problem, he said, can exacerbate when there are many people present in the room. “In such an environment, one is much more exposed to cross infections,” he said. “Chest infections can be transmitted easily as the same air keeps circulating within the room. Both tuberculosis and common cold spreads faster.”One can even contract fungal infections in the throat if an air conditioner is not serviced prior to use. “The dust gets trapped in the filters, which contaminates the environment,” said Dr Singh. Experts advise sensible use of air conditioners. “It is advisable to fix the thermostat and a person should not move from high to low temperature. At least one should spend a few minutes in shade to acclimatise oneself to a lower temperature before moving onto an air-conditioned zone,” said Dr Chatterjee.
