Thermal shocks weaken immune system

Due to rising heat, many take aid of air conditioners and air or water coolers to fight the scorching heat of summer.

Though it does temporarily cool us down, a few guidelines by medical experts for using ACs and coolers need to be kept in mind. And if we miss to watch over these few must dos, the constant use of air conditioners and coolers can land us in major health problems, and such cases are already on the rise, say doctors.

Says Dr Pragnesh Vachharajani, secretary for Gujarat State Family Physicians Forum and vice-president, Ahmedabad Medical Association: "Most of today's work places are air-conditioned, and due to rising heat, your body gets exposed to extremes of temperatures every time you enter and exit your office. These sudden thermal shocks and rapid changes of heat and chilled AC environment negatively affect your immune system."

To counter this negative effect, we must try and minimise the number of thermal shocks that we take during the day. "There has to be some intermediate zones where one's body can adjust to the both extremes of the high and low temperatures, and one must try and reduce the number of thermal shocks that one takes during the day.

To minimize the number of thermal shocks, one must take care not to go out often between 12 noon and 4 pm and complete the field work during early morning hours or delay it to evenings," advises Vachharajani. 

With this reduction of thermal shocks, there are other significant factors to watch while using ACs and coolers. Dr Narendra Raval, president for Association of Chest Physicians of Gujarat, said: "When the temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius, the hot and dry air comes in direct connection with the lungs, which under the effect of heat start excessive production and secretion of mucus and this does not allow the lungs to dry down. Again frequent changes in temperatures from non-AC to AC environment also add to complicate the function of lungs and hence a sudden increase in cases of allergic rhinitis, bronchitis and asthma occurs during summer."

Another physician Dr Raju Shah, former president of Indian Academy of Paediatrics, also agrees to this. "Frequent changes from cold to hot environment often lead to severe hyperpyrexia (high fever), dehydration and heat stroke. To avoid these problems which are on a significant increase at present, we must increase the intake of fluids and reduce the number of frequent changes from hot to cooler environment."

To prevent increase of such AC and cooler-induced allergies and infections, the number of frequent changes of extreme temperatures has to be reduced. And a number of measures like AC and coolers' weekly routine clean-up and change of filters have to be followed, say experts.

With this, the ACs and coolers have to be categorically serviced and checked weekly and their filters have to be changed every week to minimise the spread of allergies and infections within the work place.

"Cleaning of filters of AC is extremely important as a clogged filter can spread allergic respiratory diseases and harmful bacteria and viruses that can harbour in AC environment also multiply faster and affect many," said Raval.