Doctors share what air conditioning does to your body and health

Air conditioning offers lots of benefits, but there are some notable drawbacks This summer has seen a relentless succession of heatwaves, with precious little relief in between. As temperatures remain stubbornly high, the temptation to crank up the air conditioning is undeniable. Yet, while air conditioning offers an effective escape from the heat, it can also bring some unexpected side effects.

General practitioners have now revealed five surprising ways air conditioning can affect your body, sharing their top tips for reducing these annoying potential impacts. Prolonged exposure to air-conditioned environments can have a noticeable drying effect on your skin. “Air conditioning tends to remove humidity from the air which makes us feel cooler, but it can increase the water loss from your skin, explains Dr Opel Baker, GP at Mayfield Clinic in Brighton & Hove.

“This can lead to dry skin, tightness, flaking and might even lead to increased sensitivity, eczema or chapped lips. “Meanwhile, if you are already prone to getting dry or sensitive skin, you might find that air conditioning makes it even worse. “Similarly, air con can dry your eyes out and might led to burning or stinging.

Very occasionally, you might get blurred vision, but that’s very rare, says Baker. He adds that contact-lens wearers might experience more discomfort than others. “If you blink a bit more than usual, that can help settle things down, recommends Baker.

“Your nose and throat are designed to be kept moist, so if they get dry they can become irritated, says Baker. “This might lead to a sore throat, a blocked nose or a hoarse voice. Dr Lucy Hooper, London-based GP and co-founder of Coyne Medical, agrees and adds: “When your nose and throat dries out that means you’re less able to clear mucus which is an important part of our immune defence system.

Some people might experience nosebleeds. “Air conditioning can dry out your mucous membranes on the inside of your nose, which makes it more prone to cracking. Therefore, if you blow your nose too hard, or pick your nose, it can cause your nose to bleed, says Baker.

“If air-conditioning units are poorly maintained, that can increase the circulation of dust, pollen and mould which can irritate your lungs and may trigger lung conditions like asthma, says Baker. Hooper adds: “These environments can also increase the chance of getting respiratory tract infections, and if you’ve already got an underlying lung condition, getting an infection on top of that can be problematic. “If you have been in a hotel room with air conditioning for a prolonged period of time, you might have experienced headaches or body aches.

This is because your skin has become dry and you’ve probably become dehydrated and the cold airflow might have caused a bit of muscle tension, explains Baker. “Dehydration is usually the main causes these types of symptoms, but air con can have secondary effects. Here are some tips on how to combat these irritating effects: “Make sure you drink lots of water and stay hydrated throughout the day, advises Baker.