Air Conditioners: Are There Any Real Health Risks?

28 Ekim 2025

2 dk okuma

In the summer heat, everyone dreams about being close to an air conditioner. Today they are everywhere — in the office, at home, in the car. Some people worry that having an air conditioner running all the time can pose health risks. Is this true?

Temel çıkarımlar

In the summer heat, everyone dreams about being close to an air conditioner.
A breeding ground of bacteria
Air conditioners and COVID-19

Kimin için

Respiratory system konusunu legionella, ARVI üzerinden keşfedenler.

Neden önemli

Bu makale hızlıca yönelmenize yardımcı olur, ardından isterseniz bir koleksiyon veya seriye geçebilirsiniz.

Makale yazarı

Dr. Ely

General practitioner

A breeding ground of bacteria

Is it true that pathogenic microbes can live in air conditioning unit filters, including legionella bacteria, which causes a deadly infectious disease with pneumonia symptoms called Legionnaires' disease?

Legionella was named after the participants in the American Legion Veterans Convention — they were its first known victims at the time. Of the more than 2,000 delegates at the 1976 forum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States, 221 suddenly fell ill and 34 died as a result of an illness similar to pneumonia. The infamous forum was held at the swanky Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, whose air conditioning system was found to be the source of the mass infection.

However, air conditioners have changed drastically since then. In particular, antibacterial filters are now used, which destroy pathogenic microbes. To keep an air conditioner clean, you should replace or clean the air filter regularly (usually every six months) and clean the air ducts annually.

Air conditioners and COVID-19

Is there an increased risk of catching COVID-19 through an air conditioner at work or home? According to experts, air conditioning systems do not pose any additional threat to health during a pandemic. The main negative factor here is the closed space and absence of fresh air from outside, which can be easily removed by opening up windows and doors at least twice a day.

The source of stuffiness

Most conditioners just blow air available into the area, creating only an illusion of fresh air. As a result, the area can feel stuffy — especially in places where there are a lot of people all the time.

Newer air conditioners are equipped with more advanced filters that purify the air. More advanced ones even have ventilation functions. If the air conditioner does not have these features, the windows of the area can be opened periodically for fresh air.

The cause of colds

You can often hear complaints about people catching colds from air conditioners. Doctors attribute this to the sudden change in temperature when someone enters from the heat outside into a room with cooled air. This can be avoided by setting the temperature correctly. The temperature difference in the room and on the street should not exceed 8–10 °С. In addition, the device should be installed so that the airflow is not directed at people.

Dust, mold, and allergies

Some believe that dust and mold accumulate in filters of air conditioners, which can cause allergy attacks. This statement is only partly true, as modern conditioners have at least two filtering elements. The coarse filter catches the pet hair and fine dust. The fine filter catches mold spores, microbes, dust mites, pollen, and smoke. An air conditioner with clean filters does not pollute but cleans the air. If you follow the maintenance schedule of the unit, your air conditioner will not harm your health.

Okumaya devam et

Respiratory system#infectious diseases

What To Do if You Have Lost Your Voice

The disappearance of the voice is most often associated with colds. However, there are other reasons that you may lose your voice — and some can be quite serious.

Dr. Irene28 Eki 2025

Respiratory system#stress

Panic Breathing: What is Hyperventilation Syndrome?

With sudden breathing, every heartbeat sounds like a thunderclap, and sweating becomes more intense. Many people mistake these symptoms for a heart attack. If this is a regular occurrence, it is most likely hyperventilation syndrome. In most cases, hyperventilation (rapid and shallow breathing) goes hand in hand with anxiety or panic disorder. It occurs more often in women than in men. This condition does not threaten your life, but it significantly affects the quality of life.

Dr. Asya28 Eki 2025

Women's health#contraception

What Is the Pearl Index and How Does It Help Avoid Unwanted Pregnancy?

What kind of protection during sex is the most effective? No need to argue, everything has been decided for a long time.

Dr. Ely28 Eki 2025

Allergy#lactase intolerance

Lactase Deficiency or Allergy: Similar Symptoms, Different Nature

Lactase deficiency is often mistaken for an allergy to milk protein and vice versa. The confusion arises from the similarity of symptoms. But the nature of these pathologies is different: lactase deficiency is a digestive disorder, and milk allergy is an immune problem. Let's take a closer look at both of these—how they differ and what type of medical help to seek if necessary.

Dr. Angelique28 Eki 2025

Ornament'i yalnızca bu makaleleri okumak için değil, sağlığınızı takip etmek, test sonuçlarını saklamak ve diğer faydalı özelliklere erişmek için de yükleyin

Ornament'i yükle