Expert advice: Avoid staying in AC for too long, it is very harmful for such people.

Air conditioners (ACs) have been used to provide relief from the scorching heat and to control body temperature. But do you know that this device, which is used extensively in summer, can also cause many types of harm to health?

According to health experts, AC is safe, but can spending time in AC for a long time be harmful for people already suffering from some health problems? Staying in AC for a long time can cause dehydration in the body and it can also negatively affect eyes, respiratory problems, and metabolic health.

Let us know in what ways AC can be harmful to our health.

AC problems
According to the report published in WebMD, although AC is safe, there must be a good arrangement for ventilation i.e. air movement in places with AC. ACs in places with poor ventilation can cause "sick building syndrome". In this, you may have problems like headache, dry cough, dizziness, nausea, difficulty in concentrating, and fatigue.

There is also a risk of increasing respiratory infectious diseases due to AC in places with a lack of ventilation.

Risk of respiratory problems
Dr Akhilesh Kasoudhan, a specialist in respiratory diseases at a Noida-based hospital, says that people who spend more time in air-conditioned places have more respiratory problems (irritation in the nasal passages, difficulty in breathing) than others. AC air increases dryness in the environment due to which the risk of airway-related problems increases.

People who have asthma-bronchitis problems should avoid spending too much time in AC.

Risk of headache and migraine
Apart from this, exposure to AC can also increase problems related to headaches and migraine in some people. For people who are already at risk of migraine, spending too much time in AC can cause migraine attacks.

A study has found that due to lack of ventilation or problems related to air quality, about 8% of people may suffer from headaches and migraine attacks 1-3 days a month.

Effect on metabolism
Do you know that spending more time in places with low temperatures like AC can also affect metabolic health? Apart from this, you can burn less fat. In cold environments, you drink less water than usual, which can also hurt your digestive health. These conditions can cause problems like constipation and indigestion.

(PC: ISTOCK)