| Min-seok Seo, Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea / Photo: Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital |
[e대한경제=박흥서 기자] The sweltering heat and the tedious rainy season continue to be gloomy day after day. When it’s hot and humid like these days, there’s nothing like an air conditioner. It quickly blows away the heat and lowers the humidity. That’s why when you go out and come in, you look for the air conditioner first. However, if you put the air conditioner too close, you may get burnt out. it’s a cold sore
Seo Min-seok, a professor of family medicine at the Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, said, “Air-conditioning disease is a summer disease that anyone can get easily, but it can be sufficiently prevented by maintaining an appropriate indoor temperature and frequent ventilation.”
◇Symptoms are similar to those of a cold… Suspected ‘legionellosis’
Air-conditioning disease is caused by the body’s inability to properly adapt to the large temperature difference between indoors and outdoors due to excessive cooling.
Symptoms are similar to those of a cold. That’s why it’s nicknamed ‘summer cold’. The main symptoms are decreased work efficiency, headache, and fatigue. Also, my nose and throat are dry and I get cold like I have a cold. Dizziness or drowsiness appears, and indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain occur. It shows symptoms similar to allergic rhinitis, such as runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, and red eyes. In response to sudden temperature changes, peripheral blood vessels constrict, and the face, hands, and feet may swell.
In addition, if the ventilation is not properly done, the humidity in the room decreases, the respiratory tract becomes dry and the bronchial tubes become sensitive, which causes sore throat, cough, and runny nose.
Another cause that can cause cold-like symptoms due to air conditioning is ‘legionellosis’. Legionella bacteria thrive in the air conditioner coolant when the temperature is high and humid like these days.
Professor Seo Min-seok said, “If Legionella bacteria travel indoors through a cooler and spread through the cold air of an air conditioner, it can cause symptoms such as flu or pneumonia in people with weakened immunity. Legionellosis could be suspected.”
◇ Reducing the use of air conditioning improves symptoms… Consistent health care is important
Air-conditioning disease symptoms improve within a few days if you stop using the air conditioner even without special treatment. If symptoms of air-conditioning disease appear, first turn off the air conditioner, ventilate it sufficiently, and then take a rest. Do not use the air conditioner for a long time, and when operating, make sure that the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors does not exceed 5~6℃. It is recommended to keep the room temperature at 22~26℃ and avoid direct contact with the body from the cold air from the air conditioner. In addition, the room is ventilated every 2 to 4 hours so that the cold air does not stagnate and the humidity is maintained at the level of 50 to 60%. Air conditioner filters can be cleaned frequently and replaced regularly to prevent bacterial growth.
Professor Seo Min-seok said, “For health management in summer, it is important to manage your health through regular exercise and regular living and not to get stressed out. Gymnastics helps,” he said.
Incheon = Reporter Park Heung-seo chs0506@
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