If you’re somewhat like me, then you might also spend most of your workday sitting in an air-conditioned office. While AC keeps the room cool and makes the afternoon heat more comfortable, it may also affect your health in ways you do not notice. Being in dry, air-conditioned air for long periods can cause dry skin, headaches, sore throats, and tiredness. Many people don’t realise that the office AC may be one of the reasons for these problems. Doctors and health experts say prolonged exposure to air conditioning can have a steady impact on overall well-being. AC is essential, especially during North India’s intense summers, but it is important to use it wisely. This guide shares simple doctor-approved tips to help you stay healthy.
When you sit in an air-conditioned room for seven or eight hours, your body loses hydration faster than it normally would. Not only that, but the cold and dry air also draws moisture from your skin, eyes, and airways, causing dryness in your body.
This dryness irritates the mucous membranes in your nose and throat, making you more vulnerable to infections. On top of that, poorly maintained AC units can circulate dust and bacteria through the vents, which only adds to the problem.
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While we can’t avoid going to the workplace, and turning off the AC is also not an option for us, there are a few other things you can follow to keep your health in check even when being in office AC for prolonged periods. Here are some of the tips you can follow:
Tip 1: Drink water consistently
The first and foremost thing to stay safe against an office AC is to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. Cold air is dry in nature, and it dehydrates you steadily without obvious signals like feeling thirsty. Keep a water bottle at your desk and drink from it every hour, whether or not you feel like it.
Tip 2: Keep your distance from the AC vent
If you sit right under or facing a vent, then you are in the line of the most intense and cold air flow. This may lead to your muscles becoming stiffened, particularly in your shoulders and neck. You should adjust your seating position if possible so that you are no longer directly in front of the vents.
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Tip 3: Keep a breathable clothing
Workplaces tend to make their rooms too cold for people to cope with. It’s always better to keep a light sweater or coat at your workstation which you can use if you feel that the temperature out there is getting a bit too cold to handle. Moreover, this method allows you to control your own environment independent of others’ comfort levels.
Tip 4: Use a desk humidifier
It’s always a good option to keep a small portable humidifier on your work desk. The device reintroduces the moisture in your surrounding air, eliminating the dryness caused by the cold and dry air.
Moreover, it shields your skin, eyes, and throat from the effects of dryness resulting from long periods of AC use. It is a cost-effective addition which most people have found helpful.
Tip 5: Ask for regular AC maintenance
Dirty filters and old units push contaminated air into the room. If your office AC has not been serviced recently, raise it with your facilities team. Clean filters, cleared vents, and routine servicing reduce the amount of dust and allergens circulating through the air you breathe all day.