Spending long hours in AC can dry your body and cause skin, throat, and nose issues.
Dirty ACs can spread dust and germs, making you fall sick more often.
Use AC wisely by keeping a normal temperature, drinking water, and cleaning it regularly.
India becomes extremely hot during summers, as the temperature occasionally exceeds 40 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country. In order to feel comfortable, many Indians prefer spending several hours indoors in an air-conditioned environment. They find it quite refreshing and soothing. However, too much exposure to air conditioning may have some adverse effects on one’s physical well-being. Moving again and again from hot outside to cold inside can also make your body weak. It is better to use AC in balance. Take fresh air, drink water, and spend some time outside too. Follow along with the article to learn more about what happens when you stay in AC for too long.
Why too much AC is not always good for you
Air conditioners cool the air inside a room, but they also pull out moisture from it. This makes the indoor air very dry, which the body does not do well with over long periods. On top of that, most AC rooms are kept shut, which means the same air keeps going around and around.
Dust, germs, and allergens keep building up in the air that circles around the room. Moreover, if the cleaning of the AC is not done, then it starts spreading bacteria and other harmful stuff into the air, and eventually you breathe that air, harming yourself unintentionally and unknowingly.
Spending too much time in an AC room can affect your health in more ways than one:
Dry skin and dehydration: AC air is very dry. It slowly pulls moisture from your skin and body, even when you do not feel thirsty at all.
Nose and throat irritation: Dry air can bother your nose and throat, which can later lead to coughing, a blocked nose, or a scratchy throat.
Getting sick more often: You can catch infections easily if a dirty AC constantly blows germs around the room.
Tiredness and headaches: You may feel drained or have a dull headache if you sit too long in a cold, closed room.
Body shock from temperature shifts: Going from extreme outdoor heat to a very cold room suddenly can cause dizziness and put stress on your heart and blood pressure.
You do not have to stop using your AC. You just need to use it a little more carefully.
Keep the temperature between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius. Extremely cold settings do more harm than good.
Drink water throughout the day, even when you do not feel thirsty.
Ensuring that your AC is well serviced and cleaned before you start to use it on a daily basis can prevent dust and germs from building up inside it and harming you.
If you stay too long in the AC, then it’s advisable to go out or open a nearby window every few hours.
You can also use moisturisers to avoid dryness in your skin, and try not to sit directly in front of the air vent.
Bhaskar is a senior copy editor at Digit India, where he simplifies complex tech topics across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and emerging consumer tech. His work has appeared in iGeeksBlog, GuidingTech, and other publications, and he previously served as an assistant editor at TechBloat and TechReloaded. A B.Tech graduate and full-time tech writer, he is known for clear, practical guides and explainers.