Can air conditioning cause health problems? How to protect the ear from air conditioning

During the summer season and with rising temperatures, air conditioning becomes the best friend of those who just cannot stand and cannot tolerate the sultry and persistent heat, thus becoming an almost indispensable object. However, it is worth remembering that air conditioning could go from being our salvation to being our worst enemy because unfortunately its effects and improper use can be counterproductive for our health, especially for our ears, nose and throat.

The consequences of air conditioning on the ears

Air conditioners emit cool but dry air, which leads to a lack of humidity in rooms where they are used for a long time. This process causes dryness in both the nasal passages and the mucous membrane of the middle ear, impairing their normal functioning.

The nose, along with the mouth, is the point of entry of air into the body, bringing with it bacteria, viruses and other substances. The nasal mucous membranes line the nasal passages and are responsible for filtering and cleaning the air that enters, ensuring that it reaches the lungs with the optimal moisture and temperature they need.

If the nasal and middle ear mucous membranes lose their moisture due to a lack of moisture in the air, they cannot do their job properly and end up allowing bacteria to enter the nose. The back of the nose is connected to the ear via the Eustachian tube, so it is easy for bacteria that have entered to proliferate in the deeper area of the ear.

Air conditioning and stuffy ears

Prolonged exposure to air conditioning can cause the body temperature to drop below normal levels, leading to symptoms such as colds and obstruction of the Eustachian tube due to excessive production of phlegm. This can cause a feeling of plugged ears and muffled hearing.

To solve the problem, you can use:

• Decongestant medications.
• Nasal sprays.
• Nasal washes with saline solution.
• Valsalva manoeuvre: in mild cases.

Air conditioning and earache

Prolonged exposure to air conditioning can often cause ear pain, known as otalgia, due to an abrupt temperature change from a warm environment to a much colder one. This problem occurs due to occlusion of the Eustachian tube, which connects the nose to the ear. In these situations, the pressure inside and outside the Eustachian tube changes and if the air pressure becomes lower in the middle ear than in the ear canal, the eardrum retracts inwards, causing pain.

Air conditioning and the appearance of otitis

The onset of otitis is one of the most annoying consequences of a cold. The most obvious symptom of otitis media is pain, although sometimes a blockage sensation may be experienced due to inflammation in the area. It usually occurs during the summer months due to moisture accumulated in the ears after spending time at the beach, in the pool or diving without drying them properly. This type of otitis, called otitis externa or swimmer's ear, mainly affects children.

However, the increasing use of air conditioners and air conditioning is causing an increase in cases of otitis in summer, affecting people of all ages. This happens especially when people are exposed to air conditioning for a long time with their ears still moist.

So what should we do to protect our ears from air conditioning?

• Avoid standing directly under the air conditioning to reduce temperature changes and prevent neck and neck problems.
• It is not recommended to sleep with the air conditioning on as body temperature decreases during sleep, making the body more vulnerable.
• To protect the ears, it is advisable to keep the air-conditioning temperature above 22ºC.
• It is essential to keep the ears dry, as prolonged exposure to air conditioning with wet or not completely dry ears increases the risk of problems such as otitis.
• It is advisable to place humidifiers in the room to prevent the environment from drying out.
• Carry out nasal washes: an important preventive method to keep the airways clean and prevent the accumulation of phlegm in the Eustachian tube, which can cause plugged ears, ear pain and otitis.

It is important to know that children require special care in these situations, as they are not able to regulate their body temperature in the first months of life and may be more sensitive to changes in temperature.