Can Air Conditioning Give You Headaches?
Summers in Canada bring intense heat, making air conditioning units essential for maintaining comfort in homes, public spaces, and commercial areas. As demand for AC units surges, the industry is projected to generate $67.32 billion in 2024. However, while these units keep you cool, they can also cause headaches, a common but often unrecognized side effect.
In this blog, we will discuss why air conditioning gives you headaches, the types of headaches associated with it, their symptoms, and more. Whether you’re experiencing the erratic temperatures of the Prairies or the sizzling summers of Ontario, getting to know how AC units can affect your health is important for maintaining your well-being and comfort.
Air Conditioning Gives Headaches: 6 Important Reasons
In Canada, will the Air Conditioning Give You Headaches? Well, to some individuals, yes, it will, and there are several causes behind it, which are listed under this particular section:
Reason 1: AC Noises
When you have a poorly kept AC unit, it will create constant or intermittent sounds, which will trigger migraine or tension headaches. The pathways in the human body that conduct sound signals are directly connected with the neuroendocrine systems and autonomic nervous systems, which regulate stress.
In addition to causing stress in the muscles, loudness can also create headaches. You can treat headaches using cold packs, over-the-counter pain medications, and relaxing medications to gain relief. It is advisable to contact an AC specialist to address any noise-related problems with the AC system.
Otherwise, you can place the system in a much quieter setting, take breaks from using the unit, or wear earplugs when you switch on the unit.
Reason 2: Dehydration
AC units operate by transporting the indoor air through the evaporator coil. The system then eliminates the moisture and heat from the air, which the AC compressor expels outside the residence. Because air conditioners dry up the air, continuing to use them without consuming fluids can result in dehydration, which might give you headaches.
Water intake will lessen the head pain that dehydration causes, even if the exact origin of these headaches is yet unknown.
Reason 3: Airborne Chemicals and Allergens
The AC unit might let all the airborne irritants and allergens circulate the entire indoor area, which can cause headaches. In a Canadian household, the indoor air might appear pretty clean but might contain 2 to 5 times more pollutants compared to outdoors.
This also includes all the allergens and climates present inside the residence, which do not circulate outdoors. These will certainly cause headaches.
Furthermore, there are some sources of such allergens and chemicals:
- Degrading building materials
- Pet dander
- Chemicals from insecticides, paint, and even cleaning supplies
- Mold
- Off-gassing from all the pressed wood items
- Organic compounds from different materials and products
You can resolve this issue by recirculating the air. This will not just eliminate all the allergens and chemicals from the indoors but also reduce headaches.
Reason 4: Cold Temperatures
In Canada, another reason that leads to Air Conditioning Give You Headaches is the cold temperatures outside. AC systems can lower the home’s temperature to 60 Degrees Fahrenheit, which is a bit less than comfortable for individuals.
This can cause a headache, which will make you feel stabbing and sharp pain. This happens because of the rapid constriction of the blood vessels. Otherwise, it can happen when the trigeminal nerve located near the temple gets triggered.
Once the temperature becomes warmer, these headaches will also be resolved in just 30 minutes. That’s why turning up your AC’s thermostat to several degrees can give you relief from this type of headache.
Reason 5: Airborne Diseases
One of the primary reasons that Air Conditioning gives you Headaches is airborne diseases. It can circulate from the AC unit, which causes headaches. A 2016 study showed the connection between certain airborne conditions, such as tuberculosis, measles, flu, and SARs.
It pointed out that AC units can cause airborne illnesses in people. Furthermore, other airborne conditions like flu and Coronavirus can also cause painful headaches.
Types of Headaches Linked to Air Conditioning
In Canada, the AC units are a life-saver, specifically during the hot months. But for many Canadians, it can lead to headaches and pain. It’s important to have a good insight into the headaches linked to the cooling system.
Doing so will let you mitigate them, which, in return, will enhance your well-being. Provided below are some of the headaches, which are associated with air conditioning:
1. Tension Headaches
The Symptoms
Tension headaches are common headaches experienced by many individuals. It has the following symptoms:
- Tenderness in the shoulder muscles, neck and scalp
- Pressure or tightness around the head
- Aching and dull pain on the forehead, backside of the neck, and head
Potential Causes
You might experience tension headaches via air conditioning in the following ways:
- Exposure to Cold Air: Getting exposed to cold air from an AC unit for a long time will lead to tension and muscle stiffness on the shoulders and neck. This causes headaches.
- Low Air Quality: The cooling systems can circulate mold, dust, and various other allergens when you don’t maintain them properly. This might trigger tension headaches.
- Dehydration: When you use the AC unit, it can dry out the indoor air completely. This can cause dehydration, which leads to tension headaches.
2. Sinus Headaches
The Symptoms
Sinus headaches can make you experience symptoms such as:
- Experiencing pain when making head movements or straining
- Runny nose
- Pressure and pain around the cheeks, eyes, and forehead
- Nasal congestion
Potential Causes
Using AC units can worsen sinus-related problems, which will cause sinus headaches:
- Pollutants and Allergens: The Air Conditioning gives you Headaches when you don’t maintain the cooling system properly. It will spread and also carry many allergens, such as pet dander, mold, and dust mites, which can cause sinus headaches.
- Changes in Temperature: When there is a rapid temperature instability between indoor coolness and outdoor heat, sinus inflammation and congestion are triggered.
- Dry Air: The AC units can eliminate the moisture from the indoor air. This can dry out your nasal passage and make them susceptible to infection and irritation.
Migraine Headaches
The Symptoms
Migraines are extremely severe headaches that are experienced by many Canadians. These headaches have the following symptoms:
- Visual disturbances like flashing lights or aura
- Vomiting and nausea
- Sensitive towards smells, sounds, and light
- Throbbing and intense pain, typically on the side of the head
Potential Causes
If you’re prone to migraines, the AC units can trigger this headache in the following ways:
- Moisture Levels: AC units can dry out the indoor air, which will dehydrate the body. This is one of the primary triggers of migraines.
- Extreme Temperatures: If you suddenly get exposed to cold air, it will lead to a migraine attack instantly.
- Air Quality: The circulation of pollutants and allergens via the cooling system will cause migraines in all sensitive people.
Prevention and Mitigation Strategies
Maintaining Proper Hydration
When you work or live in air-conditioned settings, it’s crucial to stay well-hydrated. Here are things you can do:
- Restrict Alcohol and Coffee Intake: These things can dehydrate the human body and also worsen all headache-related symptoms.
- Regularly Drink Water: You should drink 8 glasses of fluids per day. Try to carry a water bottle so that you can drink water frequently.
- Check the Colour of the Urine: You must monitor the urine color. If it is light yellow, then it’s normal. Dark-coloured urine means your body is dehydrated.
Regular Maintenance of AC Units
You must conduct periodic servicing of the cooling system so that you can prevent unwanted headaches from occurring. You should get done these things:
- Opt for Professional Maintenance: You should schedule a yearly servicing with an experienced technician to make sure the system operates perfectly.
- Clean Up the Filters: Clean or just replace the filters of the cooling system every 1 month to 2 months. That way, you can reduce the pollutants and allergens.
- Look for Mildew and Moulds: Inspect the AC unit to make sure that it has no mould or mildew in the ducts or any other part.
Optimizing Indoor Air Quality
The best way to prevent Air Conditioning Give You Headaches is by enhancing the air quality inside the house. You can do so in the subsequent ways:
- Ventilation: You should improve indoor ventilation by using exhaust fans or opening the windows occasionally.
- Air Purifiers: You should use air purifiers that come with HEPA filters. These filters can eliminate both contaminants and allergens.
- humidifiers: If you wish to add a bit of moisture to the indoor air, use humidifiers. It stops the dryness in the skin and nasal passage.
Gradual Temperature Changes
To reduce the headaches, you can avoid the extreme temperature changes by:
- Adapt Gradually: When you come indoors from the hot outdoor weather, you must give the body a bit of time so that it adjusts to the cool temperature inside.
- Maintain Average Temperature Settings: It’s crucial to keep the indoor temperature at a moderate setting. However, be sure to avoid overly low-temperature settings.
- Gradual Cooling: Let the AC unit slowly cool the indoors of the house.
Noise Control
At times, the AC unit can also make unwanted or weird noises, which can cause headaches. Here’s what you must do:
- Opt for Quieter AC Systems: It will be much better to opt for quieter and newer cooling systems, which are designed to reduce noise.
- Noise Dampening Methods: You should put the cooling system in an area that is less disruptive or use soundproof materials.
When to Seek Medical Advice?
Although it’s pretty common for AC units to cause headaches, severe and persistent headaches can lead to serious conditions. You must opt for medical advice when you experience the following:
- Chronic Headaches: These headaches last even when you take all the preventive actions.
- Severe and Sudden Headaches: This is a type of headache that occurs suddenly and is quite painful.
- Headaches Paired with Other Symptoms: Headaches can also occur with other symptoms, such as double vision, fever, weakness, seizures, stiff neck, and confusion.
Conclusion
Canada has a diverse climate, and to maintain comfort, you have to get an AC unit for your residence. But air conditioning can also become the primary source of many sorts of headaches, such as migraine, sinus, and tension. Once you understand the causes of headaches and how to prevent them, you can use the cooling system without experiencing any headaches.
