Life Desk :It took six seasons for winter to finally dawn in Game of Thrones but at our workstations, winter never went off really. Be it 40 degrees outside or an avid humidity, we are always chilling in the dry wintry season of our air-conditioned offices. We often carry warm stoles to our offices or we have them stored in our cupboards because we need them every day unfailingly. Though it sounds like a respite to many because drenching in sweat is always better than a tingling cold but this unnatural winter takes its toll on our health. Avoiding it altogether is unlikely but there are some precautions that we can take to minimize its adverse effects.Dr Rommel Tickoo, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Max Hospital, Saket and Dr Ajay Aggarwal, Director – Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Noida talk about the hazards that office air-conditioning is causing to our health and what we can do to minimize its impact.Dryness in skin and eyesAir-conditioners pull out moisture from the air, which helps us stay dry but the downside to this is that that ACs pull out good moisture as well. They leave our skin dry and stretched, which makes it itchy. Dryness can also cause the skin to become flaky. “ACs are also harmful for our eyes as dryness in eyes can lead to redness, itchiness and can blur the vision,” Dr Tickoo said.What you can do: To keep your skin moisturized, carry a good quality skin moisturizer and apply it whenever your skin feels dry. To avoid dry eyes, you can use easily available eye-drops, which lessen the discomfort. If your skin and eyes are sensitive, it is better that you consult a doctor before buying. Though sitting in an air-conditioned environment makes you forget to have water, make sure that you sip water throughout the day. This will keep you hydrated.Muscle contractions, headaches and backachesDr Aggarwal said that he often gets complaints from his patients regarding severe back problems, muscle spasms and constant headaches and most of them are young people working in MNCs. He explained that ACs cause pain in the joints and muscles which may become rheumatic pain over a period of time. A more severe situation can even develop into arthritis.What you can do: Always make sure that the temperature of the AC is not below 20 degree celcius. Try maintaining it between 25 degrees and 27 degrees. Make sure that you do not remain in an air-conditioned environment for too long. For an eight hour shift, make sure that you go outside at least twice.Constant fatigueSometimes called ‘sick building syndrome’, many people feel an unending tiredness owing to staying in air-conditioned offices for too long. Dr Aggarwal blames sudden change in temperature as one of the reasons behind this fatigue. A poor thermoregulation can lead to a constant exhaustion. Also, lack of fresh air can leave one feeling weary.What you can do: Try to stay in a well-ventilated area where air is constantly being refreshed. Do not stay indoors for too long and make sure you go outside at least twice in a normal work day. Also, when you are entering an area with a significant lower temperature, try covering yourself with a stole to avoid direct contact with cold air.-ToI
