Short Answer: Can air conditioning cause a sore throat?
Yes, an air conditioner can cause a sore throat. An air conditioner takes moisture out of the air. If you are sensitive to dry air, it can cause a sore throat.
This is especially true for people who suffer from allergies. When possible, consider opening the windows to allow more humid air into the home.
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Detailed explanation – Can air conditioning cause a sore throat?
People who live in hot and humid climates know how challenging it can be to stay cool and comfortable during the hottest months of the year. Even with air conditioning, many people still find themselves uncomfortably hot at home, work, and other locations.
For those who have a sore throat, icky feeling, or any other types of symptoms related to a cold or flu virus, can air conditioning make it worse? Or if you don’t have a cold or flu virus and are just trying to stay cool for comfort reasons, does air conditioning help your sore throat or make it worse? Here’s what you need to know about using your air conditioner when suffering from a sore throat.
How Air Conditioning Works
AC (air conditioning) is a system that removes excess heat and humidity from indoor environments. It does this by removing air from your home or business and replacing it with new air that’s been cooled through a process called refrigeration.
Air conditioners use a variety of different cooling methods to precisely control the indoor environment, including evaporative cooling, thermoelectric cooling, and refrigeration-based cooling. Evaporative cooling is the oldest and least efficient way to cool air. It involves blowing air through water that has been sprayed over a cooling pad.
Thermoelectric cooling uses an electric fan to blow hot air through a copper wire coil that has been cooled by an external refrigerant. Refrigeration-based cooling pumps a non-toxic, non-flammable refrigerant through coils that are cooled by an external water source.
Can Air Conditioning Cause a Sore Throat?
Given the fact that air conditioning removes excess humidity, you may think that it would make you feel drier and more uncomfortable, leading to a sore throat. While some people may find their sore throat worsens when using their AC, the majority find that their sore throat is actually helped by the cooling and drying effects of their AC.
This is especially true for those who are suffering from a viral sore throat, as viral illnesses are more sensitive to humidity than bacterial infections. If you have a bacterial sore throat, you might find that your AC makes your symptoms worse, especially if you have a bacterial sore throat that’s related to allergies such as allergies, asthma, or hay fever. In most cases, though, air conditioning helps viral sore throats by reducing indoor humidity.
When Does Air Conditioning Help a Sore Throat?
Air conditioning helps with a sore throat when you use it in a dry environment. If you live in a dry, arid climate, all year long you are likely to experience a reduced level of indoor humidity, meaning that your AC will be helping your sore throat most of the time.
If you live in a more humid area, however, the AC will be removing humidity from the air, resulting in a bit drier air that can be helpful to people with sore throats. To benefit from the cooling effects of your AC while you have a sore throat, make sure you have your air conditioner set to a low humidity level that’s comfortable for you.
In some cases, people with a sore throat find that they feel better when their AC is set to a higher humidity level. In these cases, the higher humidity can make their throat feel less scratchy and itchy.
When Does Air Conditioning Make a Sore Throat Worse?
If you have allergies or a bacterial sore throat, you might find that the AC makes your symptoms worse. If this is the case, try a humidifier in conjunction with your AC to make yourself more comfortable.
If you’re using a humidifier to make your AC more comfortable, be sure to use distilled water in your humidifier. Tap water contains minerals that can damage your humidifier. If you’re suffering from a viral sore throat, you may find that the AC makes your throat feel drier. This is especially true if you have a sore throat that’s related to allergies.
If this is the case, try a humidifier in conjunction with your AC to make yourself more comfortable. Be sure, though, that you use distilled water in your humidifier. Tap water contains minerals that can damage your humidifier.
What You Can Do To Reduce AC-Induced Sore Throats
– Reduce Humidity Outside: If you’re suffering from allergies or have a bacterial sore throat, you might find that the AC makes your symptoms worse. If this is the case, try a humidifier inside your home and reduce the humidity outside with a lawn sprinkler or homemade fogger.
– Use a Humidifier: If you have a viral sore throat and find that the AC makes your throat feel drier, or if you have a bacterial sore throat that’s related to allergies, a humidifier can increase the level of indoor humidity, making you more comfortable. Be sure, though, to use distilled water in your humidifier. Tap water contains minerals that can damage your humidifier.
– Drink Lots of Fluids: One of the best ways to deal with a sore throat is to stay hydrated. When you have a sore throat, your body is losing more fluids than usual, so it’s important to drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated and healthy.
Conclusion
AC makes people with viral sore throats more comfortable by reducing the level of indoor humidity, while those with bacterial infections often benefit from a higher level of indoor humidity. In most cases, though, people with sore throats find that their symptoms improve with the use of AC as long as they also drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and healthy.
If you have a sore throat, AC can help you feel more comfortable. Although the temperature is on the low side in the summer, it will make your throat less dry and itchy.
