With the arrival of the winter months and rising temperatures, the use of air conditioning has increased. Memorial Kayseri Hospital Child Health and Diseases Specialist Dr. Ufuk Ertural also warned citizens about what to watch out for when using air conditioning.
“WE ARE UNDER INFLUENCE CONSTANTLY”
Expressing that the harmful effects of air conditioning cannot be avoided when used incorrectly, Dr. Ufuk Ertural said, “As you know, summer has come and the weather is very hot. As a family, we, our children and our adults are very suffocated by the heat. We have started using air conditioners to increase our comfort. We are constantly under the effect of air conditioners, whether in our cars, homes, workplaces or shopping malls. However, air conditioners that provide this comfort should not be our nightmare.
IT CAUSES PNEUMONIA
It is a fact that the harmful effects of incorrect use are inevitable. Infections caused by air conditioning, viral, lower respiratory tract infections, muscle pain, muscle stiffness, facial paralysis and bacteria that grow due to air conditioning, which infect us and cause pneumonia, are the factors that affect us.
PEOPLE IN THIS GROUP SHOULD PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION
Especially children, babies, elderly people, people with low immunity should be very careful about using air conditioners for upper and lower respiratory tract. These patients are at risk. As a result of air conditioners blowing directly on the person, muscle pain, facial paralysis, and loss of sensation due to nerve effects can occur. This can also cause numbness on our face. The dust and cold air emitted by air conditioners can increase the discomfort in people with allergies and put us in bad situations. It can cause asthma attacks and allergic crises,” he said.
REGULAR MAINTENANCE SHOULD BE DONE EVERY YEAR
Underlining that air conditioners should be regularly maintained every year, Ertural said, “People with allergies should protect themselves from sudden temperature changes and rapid air circulation. Legionnaires’ disease, a disease caused by air conditioners with water-based humidifiers, poses a great risk in children, the elderly and adults at all times. The way to protect against this disease is to have air conditioners maintained every year.
HEAT MUST BE CONTROLLED
In order not to be directly exposed to the air conditioner, we recommend that the temperature be regularly controlled at 22-24 degrees. We should be careful not to let the air circulation hit us directly in the face. If possible, it is recommended that we enter the room after it has cooled down. Legionnaires’ disease is not transmitted from person to person, but these ventilation systems are a direct source. One of the factors that facilitate this disease is smoking. We recommend that smoking is not done, especially in closed areas,” he said. (İHA)