Air conditioning is used frequently, especially in summer. Although it helps to bring the environment to the desired temperature and increases the comfort of life, it affects health negatively. Air conditioners and ventilation are the basis for some diseases. Experts said that as a result of the reproduction of some microorganisms called ‘legionnaires’ from air conditioners, people caught summer pneumonia. Stating that this disease can be fatal, especially in those with chronic diseases, Chest Diseases Specialist. prof. Dr. Sevket Ozkaya warned. Özkaya said, “When people take ‘legionnaires’ bacteria into their lungs with the ventilation of air conditioners, they get the disease we call ‘air conditioner pneumonia’ or ‘summer pneumonia’. We know that especially those with chronic diseases, asthma, COPD and cancer patients can have fatal consequences if they are affected by pneumonia this summer.
THERE ARE BACTERIA REGARDING THE FILTERS OF AIR CONDITIONERS
Informing Prof. Dr. Özkaya said, “As it is known, after the pandemic ends, we will experience the first summer without a mask. We are experiencing the first summer in which the mask ban has been lifted, especially in public areas and public transportation. Let’s not forget this: Our lungs work like the air filter of our environment. A person inhales, cleans and returns half a liter of air around him in one breath. If we think that each breath is half a liter, if you calculate that a normal person breathes 20 thousand times a day, a healthy person takes 10 thousand liters of air into the lungs and gives it back. Our lungs filter 10 thousand liters of air. This brings some problems. Especially with the removal of the mask ban, there are some bacteria that reproduce in the filters of air conditioners in closed areas, hotels, hospitals, workplaces, shopping malls, and cruises where central ventilation is actively used. Especially the first of these is a bacterium that we call legionnaires. When people take these bacteria into their lungs with the ventilation of air conditioners, they catch the disease we call air conditioner pneumonia or summer pneumonia. We know that especially those with chronic diseases, those suffering from asthma, COPD, cancer patients, can be affected by pneumonia this summer and cause fatal results.
AIR CONDITIONING SETTINGS MUST NOT BE LOWER BELOW 22 DEGREES
Expressing that especially air conditioners should be cleaned well, Dr. Özkaya said, “Since the complaints are less in air-conditioning pneumonia, it may not be understood much because it progresses with mild cold symptoms such as joint pain, fever, weakness, diarrhea, such as flu. It can have life-threatening consequences, especially in those with chronic diseases. With the end of the pandemic, the symptoms caused by being exposed to sudden temperature changes in this way, being exposed to heat from cold and being exposed to air conditioners can be confused with corona. Air conditioning cleaning should be given importance. We want our people to take care of themselves, especially in closed places. As much as possible, it is necessary not to reduce the air conditioning settings below 22 degrees. “I recommend that our people not be exposed to too much heat exchange,” he said.