Is your air conditioner affecting your health?

As much of North America and other parts of the world bears through humidex and heat advisories, with many places melting under extreme heat alerts, people are looking for relief from the sweltering outdoor temperatures through air conditioning.

Air conditioners are undoubtedly working overtime during this time of the year; but despite their welcomed relief from the scorching heat, air conditioners may not be the best option for your health when it comes to cooling off.

Here are some possible health concerns regarding air conditioning that you may not be aware of.

1. Illness and constant fatigue

Shivering at your office desk in mid-July? That might be the reason you are so tired. Research shows that people who work in over air-conditioned environments may experience chronic headaches and fatigue. Those who work in buildings which are constantly being pumped full of cool air may also experience constant mucous membrane irritation and breathing difficulties. This leaves you more vulnerable to contracting colds, flu’s and other illnesses.

2. Dry skin, irritated eyes, increase in dark circles and under eye puffiness.

Long hours spent in air conditioned environments causes your skin to lose moisture; if you are not aiding your skin with a constant supply of moisturizers you may begin to suffer from dry skin. This dry air can also affect the moisture balance of your eyes plus intensify dark circles and under eye puffiness. Use moisturizing non medicated eye drops to relieve the pressure and dryness which will diminish under eye issues as well.  Also make use of the Easy Eye Solutions products.  The are effective in repairing and restoring under eye tissue.

3. Adds to the effects of your chronic illness

Central air conditioning systems are known to enhance the effects the illness that you may already be suffering from. AC is notorious for increasing the symptoms of low blood pressure, arthritis, and neuritis, making pain management more difficult for those adamant on using their central air.

4. The inability to deal with heat

Those who spent a lot of time in an air conditioned environment become increasingly more intolerant of hot summer temperatures. This is mainly caused by the stress on your body from moving from a cool environment to the sweltering outdoor air. This intolerance of the heat has lead to an increase heat related deaths during heat waves, which now averages at 400 deaths each summer.

5. Breathing problems

Though your car’s AC may be a saving grace while stuck in traffic on a hot day they are the worst offenders for circulating germs and micro-organisms that cause breathing problems.

Medical researchers have found eight types of mold living inside 22 out of 25 cars tested. Air conditioners are also known to circulate air-borne diseases such as Legionnaire’s Disease, a potentially fatal infectious disease that produces high fever and pneumonia.