We all are aware of the fact that heat and extreme temperature is increasing day by day due to various reasons. People need tools and appliances that can make their life easy and comfortable. Nothing can beat the importance and convenience of an air conditioner when it comes to mitigating the summer heat and having a cool environment so that you can live and pass your day with relaxation and comfort.
According to a research report in developed countries, more than 80% of the houses have at least one air conditioner installed and operating in them. But with almost all appliances manufactured in this world, there are some side effects as well. You may have experienced a runny nose in air conditioning, this could be the result of an air conditioner and is known as non-allergic rhinitis.
A runny nose in air conditioning could be caused for various reasons and normally this is not a big issue of concern. This is natural and people from all around the world experience this factor.
Surveys show that people who have a habit of living in a cool atmosphere or those who live at a place with low temperature can also experience a runny nose in air conditioning. If you want to get information about all the minor to major aspects of this factor, keep on reading this article as it will guide you to have a better understanding of the situation.
Why air conditioners cause a runny nose?
According to experts and doctors, there are plenty of reasons that cause a runny nose while sitting in an air-conditioned room and a sudden change in temperature is one of them. People usually think that a runny nose is the result of extreme cold or some specific allergies but if we look into deep perspective, this is not normally the case. Major reasons that cause runny nose include:
- Dry Air
- Cool Air
- Certain Medications
- Infections
- Hormones
- Smell
Cold and dry air is the major cause as it causes the vessels of your nose to swell. This factor leads to the increase of mucus production and this causes a runny nose in air conditioning. Other than all these above-mentioned reasons, impurities can also be a major cause of a runny nose in air conditioning.
Air usually has mold, pollen, and other kinds of impurities in it. These impurities are extracted by the air conditioner with the air and get stuck in it. When the air conditioner throws cold air, these irritants are released and cause your nose to become stuffy or runny. If this is the case, it will not only cause a runny nose but can lead to fever symptoms as well.
The nasals are one of the most sensitive parts of the human body and this is the reason that people feel a runny nose when they go out in cold water or step into a room with an air conditioner. Always keep this fact in mind that this condition is always temporary but if you feel that symptoms are getting worse, you should immediately consult a doctor as it could be something else than just a runny nose.
How to stop getting a runny nose in air conditioning?
People usually ask what they can do to stop getting a runny nose whenever they come into an air conditioning room. One of the best things about this is that you don’t have to turn your air conditioner OFF to get rid of this problem.
This issue can easily be avoided just by using the AC unit in a proper way. If you know how an air conditioner can affect your nose, you can simply take precautions to defend against those causes.
- Replace or Regularly Clean Air Filter
- Drink Fluids
- Install a Humidifier
- Use Nasal Strips
Replace or Regularly Clean Air Filter
Manufacturers give guidance and suggestions on when and how often a person should change or clean an air conditioner filter. This can help you to remove all the dirt, debris, and impurities that became a cause of a runny nose.
Do keep this fact in mind that the time given for an air filter change will vary depending on the type of AC unit, its filter, and even the manufacturing brand. The amount of mold, pollen, dirt, and dust can affect your air filter badly and if there are a lot of impurities in your room, you may need to change the air filter very often.
Do air conditioners remove dust?
Drink Fluids
Dry and cold air cause your mucus and nose to become stiff resulting in pain or a runny nose. To get rid of all these symptoms, drink a lot of fluids no matter if it is simple water or juices. Drinking fluids will loosen the mucus inside your nose and will treat a runny nose in a quick manner.
Install a Humidifier
Usually, the problem is caused by dry air. To deal with this, you can install a humidifier to ensure that the air in the room remains moisturized. This can help you a lot in areas where moisture is relatively low in the air even in an outside environment.
Use Nasal Strips
One of the quickest and efficient solutions to a stuffy nose is to use nasal strips. They can open your nose wide in an immediate manner. This will allow air to pass through the nose properly and will cure the closed or sometimes runny nose as well.
The best thing about nasal strips is that they are completely drugs free and can be safely used with any type of medication. You will not have to worry about getting allergies or side effects by using nasal strips.
The Bottom Line:
We can simply say that a runny nose in air conditioning is natural and not a big issue of concern. This can easily be prevented with just a few simple techniques. This will only happen once or twice and when you get accustomed to the cooling air of AC, this is very rare to happen again.
Would you like to learn can air conditioning cause nose bleeds and can air conditioning make you sick too?
Dr. Sagert specializes in neurology and internal medicine. Currently work in the corvallis clinic. She graduated in 2006 from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. 15 years+ experience.
