As heat waves have gripped the country, resorting to AC is the biggest solution and relief for everyone. We’ve all been there – tossing and turning on a hot night, finally giving in and switching on the AC just to get some decent sleep. But for ones who have made a habit of sleeping with the air conditioner on all night, it might be worth taking a step back. While it helps keep you cool, it can also come with a few hidden downsides that aren’t immediately obvious. Here are the side effects of sleeping in AC that you must know before switching it on for the night the next time.
Side effects of AC that you should know
Harm to respiratory health
When you turn on the AC, you shut all the doors and windows of the room properly. When this is done for long hours, it fills the room up with stagnant air. This leads to poor air quality because of the pollutants which do not get ventilated because the room is shut, leading to potential health issues like respiratory irritation, allergies, and even asthma symptoms to flare up.
Might lead to ear infections
The chilled air from the air conditioner vents can cause pain and discomfort in the ear. This can make your Eustachian tubes – which connect the middle ear to the back of the throat – to become blocked. Thus more pressure on it over time can lead to infections.
Might weaken the immune system
With ear and respiratory infections, one of the side effects of sleeping in AC is a weak immune response of the body. When you are exposed to cold temperatures for a long time, it can also constrict blood vessels in the nose passages and upper respiratory tract. This leads to reduction in the body’s ability to fight pathogens and viruses.
Disrupts the body temperature
When you are sleeping in an air-conditioned room all night, it cools your body excessively, thus disrupting the body’s mechanisms to naturally regulate temperature. When this AC exposure happens over a period of time, it can lead to hypothermia, which means a significant drop in your core body temperature.
This can lead to health issues.
Dryness in skin and eyes
One of the side effects of AC is that it removes moisture from the air, leading to low humidity levels in the room. Because of this, your eyes and skin can feel excessively dry, especially in cases of exposure of over eight hours or longer. Dry eyes can lead to discomfort and potential eye strain.
Muscle stiffness and pain
Sleeping with the AC on all night can lead to muscle stiffness and joint pain, especially when you are exposed to cold temperatures for longer periods. Cold temperatures can lead muscles to contract and tighten. This leads to muscle stiffness and discomfort. Cold air can also aggravate joint pain and stiffness in people who are already suffering from arthritis or other musculoskeletal conditions.