One of the most common complaints people have about air conditioning is that it gives them a headache. But why does this happen? There are a few reasons that air conditioning can cause headaches and a few things you can do to help.
Table of Contents
1. Low Humidity Cause Dehydration
The most common reason why you get a headache after using an air conditioner is dehydration. AC not only lowers the room humidity, but also dehydrates your body. Your body reacts to a headache that tries to protect you.
How to Prevent Dehydration?
The best way to prevent dehydration is to drink plenty of water before stepping into the air-conditioned room. Also, use a room humidifier to keep an appropriate humidity level.
2. Cold Air Cause Blood Vessel Contraction
Another primary reason that air conditioning can give you a headache is due to the sudden contraction of blood vessels in your head. This can cause a decrease in blood flow, which may lead to temporary pain and discomfort.
When you enter an air-conditioned room, the temperature in drops drastically, which can make you feel tired.
How to Prevent Blood Vessel Contraction?
Turn up the temperature to relieve your symptoms and make you comfortable.
3. Excessive Noise
Another possible explanation is the excessive noise it produces. It might be surprising to learn that, but when the noise level from the air conditioner is too high, it can lead to a headache.
The sound levels produced by an air conditioner are usually between 50 and 70 decibels (dB). Normal speech is approximately 60 dB, but if you have ever had difficulty sleeping because of noise, then you know that any sound over 60 dB can be disruptive.
How to Prevent Noise?
Make sure the filter is clean and properly installed. You should also check for any leaks in the ductwork and seal them up. You can also reduce the amount of noise by changing the fan speed. If your air conditioner is too loud, you should turn off the compressor or change to a new model.
4. Air Conditioning Is Dirty
One reason air conditioning can give you a headache is that it does circulate dirty air because the vents aren’t clean. Your AC uses recycled air meaning that the filter has not been cleaned for a long time.
Dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria could accumulate on your AC if your unit is wet, hot, dusty and dark, which will be sent all over your room when the AC runs.
How to Make Your AC Clean?
- Give your AC a thorough cleaning
- Get professional maintenance
- Open your door & windows regularly to let fresh air in
- Don’t use harsh cleaning chemicals in your room
5. Sinus Issues caused by temperature Drop
When you step into a room that’s been cooled down by AC, the sudden drop in temperature can cause your sinuses to swell, which often leads to feeling pressure in the eyes and pain in the head.
How to Reduce or Prevent Sinus Problems?
You can do several things to reduce or prevent sinus, such as drink lots of water, try using a humidifier to put some moisture back into the air, inhale steam, sleep with your head slightly elevated by putting the pillow under the mattress on an angle.
Final Thought
If you’re one of the many people who suffer from headaches when using air conditioning, don’t worry, the above steps you can take to alleviate the discomfort. And remember, if the headaches are really severe or persistent, it’s always a good idea to see your doctor.
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