Air conditioners can contribute to several health risks in the long term, primarily due to reduced humidity and temperature changes
While the temperatures outside are so high that to get comfortable—especially while sleeping—you need your bedroom to be cool. And what’s better than switching on the air conditioner? But do you let it be on for the entire night? Experts believe it can be dangerous for your health.
In a majorly warm country like India, air conditioners work most of the year. Apart from giving you protection from heat, they keep your air free from dust and even provide you with a good night's sleep. However, that can contribute to several health risks in the long term, primarily due to reduced humidity and temperature changes.
Doctors say these include dryness in your skin and eyes, respiratory issues like dry throat and exacerbated asthma or allergies, and even fatigue or dehydration.
Why should you not keep the AC on the whole night?
Sleeping in the AC for long hours might do more harm than good to the health of kids as well as adults.
May cause respiratory issues
You need to properly close the doors and windows to ensure proper cooling of an air-conditioned room. The inadequate ventilation and continuous air conditioning may then fill the room with stagnant air.
According to experts, proper ventilation allows for the circulation of fresh air and the removal of indoor pollutants like dust and allergens, which accumulate in enclosed spaces. If you sleep in a room with the AC running overnight, stagnant air builds up pollutants, leading to poor indoor air quality and potential health issues like respiratory irritation, allergies, and the exacerbation of asthma symptoms.
Also, moisture remains trapped in the confined air, promoting the growth of mold and mildew, which can further aggravate respiratory issues and cause unpleasant odours.
Can cause ear infections
Exposure to chilled air from the air conditioner vents can affect your ears—causing pain and discomfort. According to experts, a sudden change in temperature also makes your Eustachian tubes - which connect the middle ear to the back of the throat - constrict or become blocked.
And so, increased pressure over time can cause infections.
Disruption of body temperature
Sleeping in an air-conditioned room helps cool your body excessively—which only disrupts its natural temperature regulation mechanisms. Even though doctors advise a comfortable room temperature for quality and uninterrupted sleep, repeated exposure can lead to hypothermia or a significant drop in your core body temperature.
It can make you shiver and lead to health issues, especially in the elderly and small kids.
What to do if you sleep in a room with an air conditioner?
Make sure the temperature is optimal.
According to experts, the sleeping temperature in a room should not be less than 24°C. Even though your individual preferences may vary, adjustments are necessary based on external factors like outdoor temperature and humidity levels.
In extremely hot conditions, people may also be tempted to set the AC at lower temperatures, but this can lead to excessive cooling and potential health risks.
Duration of exposure
Even though there is no way to circumvent continuous exposure in spaces with centralised AC, experts say continuous exposure leads to disruption of natural sleep patterns.
So, make sure to limit the usage during sleep to just one to two hours or simply use programmable thermostats to maintain a comfortable temperature for a shorter duration.
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