There are worse things than a sore throat, but when you have one, it doesn’t feel like it. If you have a sore throat in the spring or summer, there could be a culprit you didn’t think of – the air conditioning or AC.
People often say they experience a sore throat if they’re in air-conditioned environments too long. Is there any truth to it? And if so, how could you prevent the discomfort without sweating all summer long? The pros at Scottsdale Air are here with all the answers.
Do Air Conditioners Cause Sore Throats?
Air conditioners blow out cool air, but they also keep your home more comfortable another way – removing the humidity. This means that you’re breathing in dry air all summer, which can take a toll on your throat, nose, and ears without the necessary moisture.
The purpose of the mucus membranes is to filter out bacteria so it can’t make it into the body. If that process is disrupted, bacteria can get in and affect your ear, nose, and throat, causing irritation and infection.
Worse still, if your air conditioner isn’t operating as it should, it could make your nose and throat irritation much worse. You may end up with a sore throat, a dry throat or mouth, sinusitis, nosebleeds, and itchy eyes or skin.
How Do Air Conditioners Affect Your Throat?
The bottom line is that air conditioners don’t directly cause sore throats, but there are factors associated with their operation and staying indoors that can lead to throat discomfort.
Dry Air
As mentioned, air conditioners tend to remove moisture from the air to create more comfortable indoor environments. While too much humidity can be a breeding ground for bacteria – not to mention uncomfortable – too much dryness can cause dry and irritated nasal passages and throats. This is especially true for people with sensitive respiratory systems.
Allergens and Particles
Air conditioners can accumulate dust, pollen, and other allergens in their filters and ducts, especially if you don’t keep up with air conditioner maintenance. If you don’t clean your components and replace them as needed, they build up dust, dirt, and pollen that end up circulating in your indoor air. This can lead to throat irritation if you have allergies or asthma.
Cold Air
Some people are more sensitive to temperature changes. Going from the hot and humid outdoor air to cold indoor air can cause the blood vessels in the throat to constrict, leading to discomfort and a sore throat. Spending extended periods of time in overly air-conditioned space can make this feeling worse.
Inadequate Maintenance
If you don’t maintain your air conditioner, it could hold excess moisture in the system and may not remove humidity effectively. As a result, mold spores and bacteria can be released into the indoor air, causing throat irritation and other issues.
Broken Air Ducts
Any cracks or damage to your ductwork can lead dust and dander to get into your ducts, circulating them back through your indoor air. These contaminants are already in your ducts, so they aren’t captured by the air filter. The more irritants you have in your home, especially if you have allergies, the more irritation you’re likely to experience.
Improper Installation
If your air conditioning was installed incorrectly, it could leave your system susceptible to issues that can contribute to a sore throat, such as punctures and leaks or damaged ductwork. This can cause areas to stagnate inside the system, harboring mold and bacteria. These contaminants get pushed back into the air, irritating your respiratory tract.
Closed Vents
If you use your system with the vent control closed, it’s unable to maintain the proper air exchange with the indoor and outdoor air. This prevents proper airflow and causes parts of the system to stagnate and build up mold and bacteria. Make sure your vent controls are always open.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
If an air conditioner is not properly maintained, it may not effectively filter the indoor air. This can lead to a buildup of pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from household products and cleaning solutions. This causes not only a sore throat, but eye irritation, headaches, nausea, and allergic skin reactions.
How to Prevent Sore Throats from Air Conditioning
Some people may be more susceptible to sore throats from air conditioning than others, but a few tips can help you stay comfortable in air-conditioned areas.
Maintain Optimal Humidity
If your air conditioner takes all the moisture out of the air, you can add a humidifier to increase the moisture without making it hotter. Ideally, your indoor humidity levels should be between 20% and 50% to prevent nose and throat irritation.
Clean or Replace Air Filters
Your air filters are a big part of your air conditioner’s overall function. Fortunately, this is a simple task you can perform on your own. Make sure to clean or replace the air filters regularly, at least every few months, to improve your indoor air quality. This will reduce the circulation of allergens and particles that can lead to throat discomfort.
Optimal Temperature Settings
Keeping your home too cold is a surefire way to get throat irritation. While air conditioning can make it easier to relax in the heat, setting your home to Arctic temperatures can make the air too cold and dry for your mucus membranes. Adjust your thermostat to see what temperature is enough to keep you cool without irritation.
Consider Air Purifiers
No matter how clean your home is, it’s inevitable that you will have dust, dirt, and pollen that can end up in your air conditioning unit. Air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters can help remove allergens and particles from the indoor air, improving your overall air quality and reducing the potential for throat irritation.
Turn the Air Off at Night
Sleeping with the air conditioner on all night can leave you waking up with congested sinuses and a sore throat. Your body temperature drops naturally during sleep, so you don’t need to keep the air running cold all night to sleep comfortably. If you tend to be hot when you wake up, try sleeping in light summer clothing with just a sheet, rather than a comforter.
Stay Hydrated
Air conditioners don’t just dry out your throat. You can experience eye irritation, dry skin, dehydration, headaches, and other respiratory problems. Staying hydrated is always smart, but it’s even more important to stay hydrated when you’re spending your time in air-conditioned homes, offices, and cars to prevent nasal and throat dryness.
Gargle with Salt Water
If you already have a sore throat, you can prevent it from getting worse by gargling with salt water. This soothes irritation and helps you recover from a sore throat faster and prevents bacterial infections. You could also try saline nasal sprays and nasal irrigation to restore moisture to dry sinus passages.
Regular System Maintenance
Your air conditioner can cause a sore throat during a long season, but the risk is higher when it’s not properly cleaned. Regular maintenance ensures that your air conditioner is running optimally and free of excess dirt, debris, and moisture that will irritate your nose and throat. Your technician will also check for any minor repairs that should be corrected before the hot, humid days begin.
Pay Attention to Your Symptoms
Sore throats may be a common occurrence in air conditioning during the summer, but don’t be quick to assume it’s just from being in cool, dry air. If your sore throat is persistent, you have severe pain or difficulty swallowing, or experience a high fever, you should seek medical attention.
Should I Avoid Using Air Conditioning?
No! Your air conditioning is an essential appliance during the hot summer months. In fact, the excess heat and humidity could even be dangerous, especially if your home isn’t well insulated in a hot climate.
You don’t have to give up your air conditioning, but you can alleviate the effects by making sure you’re not overdoing it with your air conditioner and taking all the humidity out of the air. You should also schedule air conditioning service and maintenance to make sure that dirty air filters or components aren’t contributing to your sore throat.
Schedule Professional AC Maintenance from Scottsdale Air
Dealing with a sore throat every summer? If it’s been a while since you’ve had your system maintained, that’s the first step. At Scottsdale Air, we offer air conditioning service and maintenance to ensure that your air conditioner is running smoothly and efficiently.
You can schedule a tune-up at any time, but if you want to make regular maintenance part of your routine, we offer an affordable annual maintenance membership. Our service technicians will inspect and clean your system, make sure everything is running as it should, and eliminate small issues that can cause respiratory irritation like cracked ducts or dirty components.
Is it time for your air conditioner’s annual maintenance? Contact us at Scottsdale Air to schedule your AC service and maintenance appointment!
