ACs and You

Too cold or not too cold, and you thought, that is the only question. If only. As summertime makes the air-conditioner our best friend, here are the many other crucial questions we need answered so that it doesn8217;t become enemy to our health.

Too cold or not too cold, and you thought, that is the only question. If only. As summertime makes the air-conditioner our best friend, here are the many other crucial questions we need answered so that it doesn8217;t become enemy to our health. Because too much air conditioning is not healthy, especially in closed work-spaces, which could lead to infections. Even long flights can be a problem: a New England Journal of Medicine study found how a passenger traveling in a Boeing 704, which has one of the best aircondition-ing systems, infected four fellow passengers who were not necessarily sitting with him.

What8217;s the most common complaint?

8220;It8217;s too hot8221; or 8220;It8217;s too cold8221;. Different people react to the room temperatures differently. Many people like to keep the interior temperature really cold, particularly those with high body fat or ele-vated blood pressure. But cranked-up aircondi-tioners can spell disaster for people with low body fat or low blood pressure when they venture in-doors while dressed lightly for the outside heat.

Is this the only problem? No, the problem is much more serious. Dr J.N.Pande, former head of the department of medicine at AIIMS, calls it 8220;tight building syn-drome8221;. If you have a room to yourself, it8217;s fine, but the problem starts when the room is shared with more people8212;which can be anywhere be-tween five and 100 in an Indian office. Many people working in enclosed spaces with no ventilation could also mean a breeding ground for bacterial and viral diseases. 8220;Most offices have no ventilation and people share breathing spaces with one another. And one person with a disease can spread it to many,8221; says Dr Pande. 8220;The prob-lem is that there has to be air changes at least six to eight times in an hour, which mostly doesn8217;t happen, so the germs circulate and infect a lot of people.8221; People falling ill after long trips is an ex-ample. Central airconditioning in hospitals can also spread infections.

What sort of infections?

It can be anything from common cold to tubercu-losis. 8220;Very low temperature will mean a lot of summertime colds8212;sinuses and splitting headaches,8221; says Dr Pande. 8220;In some people, it af-fects blood pressure. No sweating results in con-striction of arteries and may increase blood pres-sure.8221; Airconditioning in closed spaces can produce a lot of pollutants, particularly formalde-hyde8212; which can affect lungs. Upper respiratory infections like pneumonia, even pulmonary tuberculosis, spreads in closed spaces as the viruses and bacteria circulate. 8220;Theoritically carbon dioxide can increase in closed rooms. Concentration of ozone and harmful nitrogen dioxide can also collect in tightly enclosed buildings making ventilation even more crucial. In damp and humid atmosphere, filters can give rise to fungus and moulds.

How do you best use the AC?

It may not be practical do without air conditioning entirely, but we can be sensible in how we use it. By keeping airconditioners at reasonable settings, not too hot or too cold, we can save money, help the environment, and avoid those summertime colds that seem to go on for ever. Here are some other tips. You should try to get a breath of fresh air after every two to three hours in a closed room. In case you have any chest infections or viral infec-tions like flu or serious illnesses like tuberculosis, avoid going to office. If you find a person con-stantly coughing or wheezing, leave the room for a while. And cover your nose. Keep the option of vent opening. At home, open doors and windows at least once everyday8212;a little sunshine and fresh air are important. Install air filters in overcrowded buildings. HEPA filters keep particulate matter out, including mi-crobes and bacteria. And remember to clean the filters regularly8212;at least once a fortnight.