Is it true that we cannot use air conditioning all the time in summer?

This year has entered the dog days

The dog days will last until the end of August

In the hot summer

Air conditioning is an essential cooling tool for Chongqing residents

This issue of "The Doctor is Here"

The First Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

Professor Xiong Jian, Director of the Department of Respiratory Medicine and Chief Physician

Explain to us how to use air conditioning to cool down correctly

Professor Xiong Jian, Director of the Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and Chief Physician

Question: I often hear elders say, "You can't stay in an air-conditioned room all the time in the summer, and you can't keep using the air conditioner even if you feel hot." Is this statement correct?

The body's temperature regulation center is in the hypothalamus, which maintains a constant body temperature and a dynamic balance through a series of physiological activities.

In summer, the human body regulates its body temperature through physiological activities such as capillary dilation and increased perspiration. If the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the room is too large, the indoor ventilation is poor due to long-term use of air conditioning, and the air is polluted, it will affect the body's normal regulation function and cause diseases.

Therefore, it is not advisable to stay in an air-conditioned room all the time.

Q: Some people like to set the air conditioner to a very low temperature and then sleep under a blanket. Is this method feasible?

This mainly depends on personal preference, physical health, etc. It is worth noting that large temperature differences between indoors and outdoors may often lead to illness.

Generally speaking, it is more appropriate to keep the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor at 4~6 degrees Celsius.

Q: Some elderly people may be reluctant to turn on the air conditioner in summer due to economic considerations. How can we determine whether the elderly need to turn on the air conditioner to cool down?

Due to geographical reasons, the temperature and humidity in Chongqing are relatively high in summer, and the weather is very hot and humid. The temperature and humidity determine a person's perceived temperature. At the same temperature, the higher the humidity, the higher the perceived temperature. For groups, the perceived temperature of the elderly, infants and young people is different.

There may be people of different ages in a family, and the use of air conditioning and the duration of use need to be taken into consideration. Usually, the activity areas of the elderly and young people can be divided at home. When sleeping at night, the temperature that the elderly feel comfortable with can be set. Sometimes, lowering the humidity can also make people feel comfortable. The elderly are reluctant to use air conditioning not only for saving money, but more likely because their physical conditions are different from those of young and middle-aged people.

Q: What else should I pay attention to when using the air conditioner?

● When using air conditioning, pay attention to ventilation. Generally, open windows for ventilation every 2 to 4 hours or install a fresh air system.

● Clean the air conditioning filter in time. Dirty air conditioning filters can easily breed viruses and bacteria and cause respiratory diseases.

● Do not blow directly at the air outlet of the air conditioner. Direct blowing will cause pores to be blocked, sweating to be reduced, and the body's own effective heat dissipation function to be reduced, which is easy to breed diseases, especially respiratory diseases.

● Before using the air conditioner, carefully read the instruction manual to understand its functions, including but not limited to temperature setting, dehumidification, ventilation, wind direction adjustment, etc., and use the air conditioner reasonably and safely.

● When leaving an air-conditioned room, prepare appropriate cooling items according to the humidity and temperature of the day to be prepared for any eventuality.

Source: Chongqing Science and Technology News Co., Ltd.

Review expert: Yuan Tingting from Southwest University of Political Science and Law

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