New Delhi: Technology affects our everyday lives in numerous ways. Over the years, it has made our lives a lot simpler than it used to be. But like everything else, the benefits of technology also have their own flip side.
With summer just around the corner and as the average temperature across the world rises due to the effects of global warming, most of us prefer to spend our time inside air-conditioned rooms, as it soothes us and helps us to work efficiently. But air-conditioning can also have some drastic effects on our health.
Not so many years ago, air conditioning was a luxury vouchsafed only to the privileged few; But now, as it's the norm in many offices and public transport systems, it's a part of our lives as well whether we want it or not.
Therefore, sometimes, being aware of the harmful effects of technology may help us to improve a particular situation and lead healthier lives.
So, let's take a look at AC’s effects on our health:
While it is a relief to walk into a cool room after being out in the hot sun, prolonged use of air conditioners causes more harm than good. What you are unaware of is the havoc it plays on your skin and hair.
Air conditioners aggravate skin disorders
Cold air environments can be a sole reason behind your dry skin when you get back to home.
A room where an air conditioner is running- is as dry and arid as a desert. ACs pull out moisture from the skin as well and leave it feeling dry and stretched. If your skin is not sufficiently protected to combat it, constant dryness will affect the inner layer of the skin. When skin becomes dry and stretched, it feels itchy.
Those who have a dry skin will notice that their skin becomes flaky. This is because AC removes water i.e. humidity from indoor air and robs the outer layer of the epidermis of skin. This constant loss of water and lack of replacement of water from the skin tissues result in flaking, dry and chapped skin.
When ACs remove the water or humidity content from a room, skin starts shrivelling and it also becomes prone to developing creases and wrinkles. All this hastens the ageing process and there is hardly anyone in this world who would like to have skin that has aged a lot more than their actual years.
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.
Weaker Immunity
Air conditioning creates an artificial change in temperature which is unhealthy for human immunity causing weakening of immune system. People who frequently switch between extreme temperatures by staying inside home and office and later outside in scorching heat fall sick more frequently for no apparent reason.
Feeling constantly fatigued
When temperature of air conditioning is set very low, it causes internal shivering in a person’s body and when that individual works overtime it produces more heat causing constant fatigueness which is the most crucial negative health effect of air conditioning.
Sinusitis
According to the researchers, people who spend more than 4 hours in air conditioning environment are more likely to get diagnosed with sinusitis infections as the chilling cold air tend to harden or dry the mucous gland.
Dryness of eyes
Air conditioning environments tend to dry out your eyes causing irritation of eyes; itchiness and tearing of eyes as the liquid of eyes get dry easily due to the cold temperature. Redness and swelling can also be caused due to over exposure to cold temperature.
Viral Infections
Another quite common negative health effect of air conditioning is getting viral infection which is ultimately due to weaker immunity. Air conditioning is a process in which there is no fresh air circulation rather the old air gets circulated over and over again transmitting bacteria and viruses of cold, flu from one individual to another.
Breathing Problem
When the air conditioners are not cleaned properly and frequently and the filters are changed, all kinds of bacteria and fungi breed in the air conditioning machines are created. This is caused due to the build up of moisture in the coils and ducts of condensation that forms while the cool air passes through. When these tiny microorganisms are air-borne, they lead to a multiple breathing problems including some dangerous infections such as pneumonia and Legionnaire’s disease.
Allergy
The negligence in cleaning the air conditioners can lead to accumulation of dust, bacteria and mold in the air circulating ducts which later on circulates infectious air causing skin irritations, redness of skin, itchiness and skin allergy which is another common negative health effect of air conditioning.
References:
https://www.mostinside.com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
https://globalnews.ca