Did you know? Recirculated air conditioning can cause chronic fatigue

During the summer, many people keep the air conditioning on for long hours to beat the heat. However, Dr Melissa Sathyan, a consultant in internal medicine at Rela Hospital in Chennai, raised concerns regarding this habit. 

Prolonged exposure to air-conditioned environments can lead to metabolic changes, as the body is not naturally adaptive to artificial cooling.

Why should you not spend long hours in AC?

Continuous exposure to artificial cooling has ramifications for metabolism and energy levels.

• Reduced natural thermoregulation: “When we are in a constantly cool environment, it burns fewer calories to maintain temperature. Combined with long sitting time, this can slow down metabolism and result in fat accumulation,” explained Dr Sathyan.
• Fatigue: “Poor air quality, low humidity and recirculated air can reduce oxygen freshness and lead to tiredness, headaches and reduced cognitive performance."

Warning symptoms to look for

If your environment is affecting your health, you may experience:

• Persistent fatigue
• Headaches
• Dry throat
• Frequent cold
• Gradual weight gain without an obvious cause

Steps to be taken for prevention

To mitigate these risks, the doctor suggests several safety tips:

• Drink a lot of water so your body doesn’t get the chance to dry out.
• Take small breaks every 1 hour for stretching and movement.
• Try breathing in natural air during breaks.
• Avoid being in excessively low temperatures.

Dr Sathyan insisted that while the cooling itself is not harmful, it often encourages a sedentary lifestyle. The real issue is the duration of stay in cooled spaces.

Please Note: This information is for educational purposes only and does not count as medical advice. Readers should always consult a qualified doctor regarding any questions about their health or a medical condition.