AC or Air Conditioner is everywhere. At home, work, even places to eat and hangout. In fact, not a few of us sleep with air conditionings in our rooms. But did you know that air conditioning can have a negative impact on our health? Here are 7 risks and the importance of having natural air ventilation to keep our bodies stay healthy.

Even though it’s cool and comfortable, AC can have a bad impact on our health (Source: freepik)

What are the concerns?

• Tiredness

First is when our body easily gets tired. Air from the air conditioner is not natural, unlike the air from windows and other air vents. So, the body and lungs can lack fresh air. This causes the body to get tired easily, or even feels weak all day. In addition, we can also feel nauseous and have headache.

• Neck and shoulder pain

Furthermore, neck stiffness and shoulder pain can also occur because of the air conditioner. Usually, we sleep with a low AC temperature or cold. When sleeping in cold places, our bodies become stiff. Then, when we wake up in the morning, our neck and shoulders become stiff, causing a lot of pain when we try to move them.

Frequent exposure to air conditioning can make us feel tired and lower our immunity (Source: freepik)

• Cold, flu, and respiratory problems

The air from the air conditioner goes through a cooling process in the form of evaporation, so the air is dry. This dry air interferes with our respiratory system. The respiratory tract, such as the nose, sinuses, and mouth, produces mucus or fluid to humidify the air. Because the air is dry, the body is forced to continue to produce. As a result, there can be a buildup or what we usually call a cold.

• Skin dryness

As explained above, the air from the AC is very dry. S=Our skin, which is exposed to air conditioning constantly, becomes dry. In addition, if we lack body fluids, it’s also harder for the skin to moisturize itself again.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

We usually experience pain and tingling sensations in our hands and feet, especially in the fingers. This is what we know as carpal tunnel syndrome. This syndrome can get worse if we are in an air-conditioned room constantly.

• Decreased immunity

Furthermore, the unnatural air from the air conditioner can also lower our immune system. The body needs oxygen-rich natural air. If we breathe AC air continuously, the body does not get natural air, then it cannot work optimally.

• Infectious diseases

Finally, air conditioning can also exacerbate the transmission of infectious diseases. If we are in the same room with sick people, air conditioning can carry infectious diseases to our bodies.

Then, what are the solutions?

To avoid the dangerous risks of air conditioning on our bodies, make it a habit to open windows and doors in the morning. This is for air circulation, so that the air inside is replaced with fresh air from the outside. In addition, you can also use natural air ventilation. Some examples are windows, jalousies, and breezeblock ventilation. No need to worry about running out of electricity, because natural air ventilation does not need energy. Convenient!

Example of a healthy and energy-saving natural air ventilation