Air conditioners, which are widely used in the summer months, can cause headaches. Expert Dr. Murat Yaycı shared the precautions to be taken to prevent air conditioner-related headaches.
Air conditioners, which are frequently used to cool down in the summer heat, can have negative effects on health when used incorrectly. One of these effects is frequently air conditioning headaches.Atabay Pharmaceuticals Medical Director Specialist Dr. Murat Yaycı stated that air conditioners, which are widely used in both homes and vehicles especially in the summer months, work by constantly circulating the ambient air and that this situation can pave the way for various illnesses. Dr. Yaycı listed the basic factors behind headaches caused by air conditioners and the precautions that can be taken as follows:
Loss of Body Fluid: Air conditioners take in moisture from the environment as they operate, causing the body to lose fluids. When not enough water is consumed, this can lead to headaches and various diseases. Therefore, it is vital to drink water while using the air conditioner.
Cold Air Caused by Air Conditioning: Cold weather can cause headaches by constricting the blood vessels. This can be prevented by not lowering the temperature of the air conditioner too much and by balancing the room temperature by turning it off from time to time.
Not Cleaning the Air Conditioning Filter: Failure to clean the air conditioner regularly will cause dust mites, pet hair, mold spores and various allergenic substances to stick to the air conditioner filters and spread back into the environment. This can cause severe headaches as well as problems such as sinus congestion, allergies and irritation. Regular filter cleaning and maintenance will eliminate these risks.
Airborne Diseases: Since air conditioners work by circulating indoor air, people with respiratory diseases that can be transmitted through the air, especially the flu, can more easily transmit their diseases to others. Therefore, air conditioners should not be operated in the same environment as people with these diseases. Air conditioning systems play an important role in the spread of airborne viruses.
“If the headache gets worse, treatment should be supported with appropriate painkillers after consulting a doctor.”
Specialist Dr. Murat Yaycı made various recommendations to prevent and treat headaches caused by air conditioning shock. Yaycı; “Make sure the air conditioning unit is clean. In this way, we prevent both severe headaches and other diseases that may occur such as allergies. Do not forget to pay attention to sufficient water consumption when using the air conditioner. If the headache is getting worse or does not get better despite the precautions taken, the treatment should be supported with appropriate painkillers by consulting a doctor. Although air conditioners are our savior in hot weather, headaches that reduce our quality of life are an inevitable result when used unconsciously and carelessly.”
