What Causes Blocked Nose In Air Conditioning: How To Treat Permanently

Air conditioning has now become a common utility and has lost its luxury status. It has not remained an appliance only meant for privileged people. You can find air-condition in public places and even in transport systems. It has become a part of our daily life whether you prefer it or not.

Although air-conditioning is comforting experience it has its own flaws. Low temperature and imperfect maintenance can lead to many health problems. One such concern related with air-conditioning is running nose or stuffy nose. According to experts, issues related with sinusitis affect millions of people in USA every year. The common symptoms may include congestion of blocked nose, headache, runny nose, facial pain, etc. Sinus infection occurs when your nose becomes swollen and infected with pathogens.

You may find many people nowadays complain of nasal problems such as blocked nose or running nose and sneezing after they wrap up their work. The problem is not limited only in offices but people have similar problem even at air-conditioned homes.

Air-condition does not pose risk to health in all people, but among people whose nose is extremely sensitive to external air temperature, those who are allergic, or have compromised immune system and those who are already suffering from infection such as common cold. They are prone to bad effects of air-conditioning.

Causes of nasal blockage sto air-conditioning:

There are several causes that may trigger running nose or blocked nose in cold air-conditioned atmosphere. Let us know one after another.

• When you sleep directly under the draught of air from air-condition it is likely that your nasal passage may be affected. This occurs especially when there is an existing mild blockage due to a nasal polyp or deviated nasal septal defect. It may also aggravate when you are suffering from cold.
• Keeping air-condition well maintained and regular servicing is very important. If this is not carried out from time to time, the air filter in the machine may not work properly. The dust settled in the machine may blow inside the room. The symptoms further worsen if there are toys and mosquito repellants in the room or after spraying room freshener.
• Many people complain of rhinitis and stuffy nose if they are working in centralized air-conditioned offices. The most common reason is they become allergic to dust and molds that remain stuck inside the air-condition vents.
• People who frequently move in and out from air-condition room to hot air outside may suffer from nasal blockage. The nasal passage gets dried faster due to lack of moisture.
• The thermostat must be maintained between 22 to 23 degrees. If it is too low, the air may become dry which may lead to nasal dryness and stuffiness.

How to treat this problem permanently:

There are several over the counter products available in medical stores that may help to decongest the nose. But all these nasal sprays and drops provide temporary relief. The basic triggering factor is not addressed. Here are few steps that may be useful in preventing episodes of nasal blockage as a consequence of air-conditioning.

• Regularly service air-condition and its filters. These will prevent dust and other harmful substances from accumulating.
• If polyps or deviated nasal septum is increasing the free air movement inside the nose, address this problem by consulting your physician. In some cases surgery of polyps or DNS can resolve the problem.
• Regularly clean the vents to remove molds and dust in centralized air-conditioning system.
• Avoid using room freshener or any products with strong smell in air conditioned room if it exacerbates the condition.
• Keep a humidifier in the room if dry air from air conditioning is causing the problem.