Comfort turns to irritation <\/p>\n
The ‘AC sickness’, is often the body reacting to indoor air quality. For starters, when systems are poorly maintained, they may circulate dust, mould or allergens as Dinesh Ramachandran, Technical & SHE Manager, Rentokil Boecker, UAE explains. “And, when the filters are not clean, they can trap bacteria, which is what makes people sick. There can be a mushy odour, a sock-like smell.”<\/p>\n
Quite often, that’s your first sign that something is off with your air-conditioning, and that it needs fixing. <\/p>\n
Moreover, what many people describe as ‘AC sickness’ is often the body reacting to indoor air quality. While poorly maintained systems may circulate dust, mould or allergens, the extremely cold, dry air can irritate the nose and throat. Furthermore, theeEnclosed spaces with limited ventilation may also increase exposure to viruses when people spend long hours together indoors.<\/p>\n
And because these symptoms emerge gradually, they are easy to dismiss until they become routine.<\/p>\n
The body’s protest <\/p>\n
As Dr Mohammed Harris, consultant pulmonologist at Medcare Hospital Sharjah, explains, the pattern is consistent: dry throat, nasal congestion, sneezing, headaches, dry eyes, fatigue and occasional muscle stiffness after prolonged exposure. In some cases, coughing or sinus irritation appears when air is overly cold or poorly filtered.<\/p>\n
The issue is rarely dramatic. It is cumulative, which is a gradual wearing down of comfort that is easy to ignore in the moment. <\/p>\n
The sick-building syndrome<\/p>\n
There is even a name for the strange collection of symptoms people develop after spending too long sealed inside artificially cooled buildings: ‘sick building syndrome’<\/p>\n
It sounds dramatic, but the symptoms are common: Headaches that persist during the workday, dizziness, blocked noses, dry coughs, wheezing, skin irritation, brain fog and a fatigue that coffee never quite fixes. The longer people remain inside a particular air-conditioned space, the worse these symptoms often become. Many notice relief almost immediately after stepping outside.<\/p>\n
The condition is most commonly associated with office workers trapped for hours in recycled indoor air, but it can affect anyone spending extended time inside heavily air-conditioned environments, from hospitals to apartment towers.<\/p>\n
Research is increasingly backing up what many people suspect. A 2023 study, titled Impact of Air Conditioners on Sick Building Syndrome, Sickness Absenteeism, and Lung Functions, from India tracked 200 healthy adults working six-to-eight-hour shifts in air-conditioned offices against 200 adults who did not work in AC environments. <\/p>\n
Over two years, the air-conditioned group reported significantly higher rates of symptoms linked to sick building syndrome, particularly allergies. More strikingly, clinical tests found poorer lung function among those regularly exposed to AC, alongside higher rates of work absences compared to the non-AC group.<\/p>\n
Artificial winter and drying of the body <\/p>\n
One of the least discussed effects of over-air-conditioned environments is also dehydration. The air-conditioning reduces humidity indoors, and while that makes a room feel cooler, it also strips moisture from the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Over time, this can irritate the body\u2019s natural protective barriers.<\/p>\n
The dry air can irritate the lining of the nose and throat, leading to discomfort, dryness, or coughing in some people, says Harris. \u201cIn certain cases, it may make the airways feel more sensitive, especially if the air is excessively cold or exposure is prolonged.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Razim Abdul Rasheed, specialist ENT, Aster Clinic Qusais, says this is especially visible during Gulf summers, when people move constantly between scorching outdoor heat and intensely cooled indoor spaces. “We commonly see patients experiencing AC-related discomfort due to long indoor exposure and sudden temperature changes between outdoor heat and indoor cooling,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
The repeated shock to the system can leave some people with persistent throat irritation, sinus congestion, headaches and fatigue. People who are more sensitive, might also experience increased mucus production, as the body attempts to protect itself from dryness.<\/p>\n
The irony, doctors say, is that many people respond by lowering the temperature even further, believing colder means fresher. In reality, excessively chilled environments often worsen irritation.<\/p>\n
When the system becomes the trigger <\/p>\n
For people with asthma, allergic rhinitis or respiratory sensitivities, neglected AC systems can become a constant trigger. The dust, mould, pollen or dirty filters can trigger symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, sneezing, or nasal congestion, Harris explains.<\/p>\n
Rasheed and Ramchandran echo the concern, warning that dirty filters can circulate allergens including dust mites, mould spores and pollen. \u201cPatients with asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, or dust allergies are generally more sensitive to poor indoor air quality and sudden temperature changes,\u201d adds Rasheed.<\/p>\n
At clinics across the UAE, doctors say they frequently see worsening respiratory symptoms during peak indoor months, when residents spend most of their time in sealed, air-conditioned environments.<\/p>\n
Dr Beena Thomas, specialist pulmonologist, Aster Clinic, Discovery Garden. notes that cold, dry air can make airway secretions thicker and stickier, increasing irritation and sometimes even the work of breathing in sensitive patients.<\/p>\n
And while air conditioning does not directly cause viral illnesses like colds or flu, closed indoor spaces can make transmission easier. \u201cThe poorly ventilated closed indoor environments may also cause easier spread of respiratory infections, especially when many individuals share recirculated air for prolonged periods,\u201d Thomas says.<\/p>\n
The holiday paradox: What happens when the AC is switched off <\/p>\n
The problem is compounded during summer holidays, Ramachandran adds, when many households switch off their air conditioning systems for weeks at a time.<\/p>\n
On the surface, it feels practical, a way to save energy while the home sits empty. But in reality, it creates ideal conditions for internal build-up. In hot and humid environments, residual moisture doesn\u2019t simply disappear when the AC is turned off; it lingers in ducts, coils and drain pans, where dust settles and stagnation begins. Over time, this can create a low-grade environment for mould and bacteria to develop unnoticed.<\/p>\n
When the system is switched back on after weeks of inactivity, it does not just resume cooling the space, it can also recirculate what has accumulated inside it. For returning occupants, that means a sudden exposure to trapped dust, allergens or microbial particles, which may trigger irritation or respiratory discomfort.<\/p>\n
The risk can be compounded during winter months, Kaur points out. \u201cMany residents switch off their air conditioners for a few months during the cooler winter period, October through February. When the unit is dormant, moisture trapped inside the system doesn\u2019t evaporate. It sits,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd in a warm, humid environment like the UAE, that\u2019s the perfect incubator for bacterial and mould growth. By the time residents switch the AC back on in March or April, they\u2019re essentially blasting a season\u2019s worth of biological buildup directly into their home.\u201d<\/p>\n
The maintenance people ignore <\/p>\n
What most people never see is what builds up behind vents, filters and ducts over months of heavy use.<\/p>\n
In the UAE\u2019s climate, air conditioners run almost constantly for large parts of the year. The relentless use creates the perfect environment for dust accumulation, moisture build-up and mould growth if systems are not properly maintained. Ramachandran says maintenance is essential.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the UAE climate, AC units can account for up to 70% of a building’s energy consumption during summer,\u201d he explains. \u201cTo keep costs down, the system must breathe without resistance.\u201d<\/p>\n
This means cleaning or replacing filters regularly, at least once a month \u2014 and ensuring ducts, coils, drain pans and filters are professionally cleaned and sanitised.<\/p>\n
Ramachandran recommends using NADCA-certified companies for deep AC cleaning and stresses the importance of controlling indoor humidity. He suggests cleaning once, every quarter, if not monthly, which might be more expensive.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaintain indoor humidity between 40 per cent and 60 per cent,\u201d he says. \u201cIf humidity exceeds 60%, mould will grow on furniture and walls regardless of how \u2018clean\u2019 the AC is.\u201d<\/p>\n
For households with pets, elderly residents, young children or immunocompromised individuals, he advises even more frequent maintenance, alongside standalone HEPA air purifiers to ‘polish’ the air the AC system may miss.<\/p>\n
Why colder is not always better<\/p>\n
There is also a strong affinity with freezing indoor spaces; one that experts say comes with both health and financial consequences. Ramachandran advocates what he calls the ’24\u00b0C Rule,’ noting that every degree lower than 24\u00b0C can increase cooling costs by six to nine per cent.<\/p>\n
Lakshana is an entertainment and lifestyle journalist with over a decade of experience. She covers a wide range of stories\u2014from community and health to mental health and inspiring people features. <\/p>\n
A passionate K-pop enthusiast, she also enjoys exploring the cultural impact of music and fandoms through her writing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Comfort turns to irritation The ‘AC sickness’, is often the body reacting to indoor air quality. For starters,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":433747,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[273,111,139,69,147],"class_list":["post-433746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-environment","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=433746"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433746\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/433747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=433746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=433746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=433746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}