Is Air Conditioning Bad for You?

by Heisenberg Posted 2012/08/03 18:00:00

Related Topics: Air Conditioning, Weather, Air, Cool, Cold, Hot

304 votes
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	Yes	71 votes	23%
	No	233 votes	77%

Air conditioning is stale and recycled air... so it's not a big surprise that there's a belief that it's not too good for you. Do you buy it?

SLATE.COM reports:
A few weeks ago, an academic journal called Weather, Climate and Society posted a curious finding about how Americans perceive the heat and cold. A team of researchers at the University of Oklahoma asked 8,000 adults living across the country to state both their political leanings and their impressions of the local weather.

finding americans perceive heat cold team researchers university oklahoma 8000

+20

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Jimbo 2012/08/03 16:10:52

No

+10
110 degree weather for weeks on end is bad for me
>> See Replies

More polls by Heisenberg

JERSEYDUDE to I(◕‿◕✿)I 2012/08/05 07:43:30

the ? was is AC bad for you....the answer is yes

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I(◕‿◕✿)I to JERSEYDUDE 2012/08/05 20:36:31

I say no, and that's your opinion. Maybe its bad for you if you never change the filter and have it on all day and all night, but that would be stupid anyway. Read what the person above me said its make way more sense. Even if you think it's bad, then open a window!

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Flamingolady 2012/08/05 03:29:24

No

+1
We had no air conditioning when I was a kid, but now as a retiree, could not think what it would be like without it.

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Walt 2012/08/05 03:05:35

No

+1
Around here, anyone stupid enough to believe that probably has already had a heat stroke and died. (I have no intention of attending their funeral, since I have a serious problem with stupid people.)

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chrystal97 2012/08/05 03:04:26

Yes

+1
Not just that, but also those who like the temperature lower have a hard time adapting to hot weather. Here it can get upwards of 100 degrees, yet those who stay inside with that 65 degree air conditioner can't stand being outside for a few minutes.

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mark to chrystal97 2012/08/05 04:36:20

65 degrees!? Wow , I'd be freezing! Years ago I set the thermostat in the summer at 71 degrees. The past few years I have been setting it at 75 degrees. I'm just fine at 75 degrees. It's just a matter of getting accustomed to the setting.

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Ian to mark 2012/08/05 07:59:13

+1
I think you get used to anything,worked in Yemen for a while, and the guide was swotting flies with his hand.
I asked him do these flies bother you Youseph to which he replied "what flies"
He did not notice thet were there, what was made me laugh was that if he did not notice the flies, he also did not know that he was swotting the flies.
It had become a reflex action,one that he was unaware of.

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ParkMan 2012/08/05 03:00:49

No

+2
I'll take:

over:

anyday

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Monty 2012/08/05 02:12:07

Yes

+1
it can be if you never ever open your windows for fresh air,there are many more pollutants indoors then outdoors,i only turn on my AC when it's absolutly nessecary,when it's well over 90 with humidity,besides,i like the feel of fresh air compared to air conditioned air.
i swear some ppl seem to fear freah air,who has the AC running when it's 75=80 out? c'mon!

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jere.chievres 2012/08/05 01:26:07 (edited)

Yes

+2
I grew up in Florida without it, now I have it because you can't hardly find a house with out it. In Europe we did not have it either and I did not miss it.

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CAPISCE 2012/08/05 00:38:56

No

+1
I live in Florida, trust me Air Conditioning is a God send

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YepIDidItSo 2012/08/04 19:24:12

No

+2
no. It is icy cool goodness for my skin!

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elvira 2012/08/04 19:19:19

Yes

Yes, if you don't change your filters it is. You open your doors during the course of the day; so, you do get fresh air in from time to time. Most homes are not air tight. The biggest problem with heating and air-conditioning is not changing your filters regularly. Remember to change them at least every three months.

I would not give up my air-conditioning too easily.

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SA to elvira 2012/08/04 22:35:09

We always change the filters. I don't understand why others find it hard to do. I have Asthma, but I haven't had problems with my Asthma going on two years.

I love my A/C.

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elvira to SA 2012/08/04 23:00:05

+1
Glad to hear about your asthma. I hope it continues to be under control for the rest of your life.

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SA to elvira 2012/08/04 23:07:25

Thank you.

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elvira to SA 2012/08/04 23:14:13

+1
You are welcome. :)

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mark to elvira 2012/08/05 04:43:27

With 2 small dogs I change mine about every 30 to 45 days. I have also been using 2200 MPR filters recently but man are they expensive.

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elvira to mark 2012/08/05 12:35:00

+1
I have three Labradors. I change air filters (3M Filtrete) every three months as they recommend. Yes, filters can be expensive. Breathing air that is recycled and not filtered could end up costing you more. Just imagine breathing in the microparticles in the dirty filter. You get an A+ in filter changing. :)

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Twinkle 2012/08/04 18:51:53

No

Hmm well what worst the dyeing of the heat or the nice cold air.

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Shahd 2012/08/04 18:17:07

No

it gives me the flue sometimes but there's no way I could survive in this weather without it.

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tom C 2012/08/04 18:15:30

No

+1
heat stroke is bad for you......
Many Air Conditioning people will design a system that uses a small amout of outside air ducted into the system....

Also.....no home is 100% airtight....there are leaks in many places....so expect some fresh air to sneak in....

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Monty to tom C 2012/08/05 02:07:00

it seems as if some ppl think fresh air is poison

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Larry 2012/08/04 18:03:44

No

+1
no matter it's better than a heat stroke

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Steve 2012/08/04 17:57:21

No

Fresh filters keep the air clean, Imagine sitting in your house with temps over 100 degrees. I know there are some who have to and I do feel for them. I am very thankful for air conditioning.

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KeeganTheAwesome 2012/08/04 17:56:45

No

The argument that air that gets air conditioned is stale is moot, because the earth recycles its atmosphere just as an air conditioner recycles a house's air. I don't know about you, but I think Earth's recycled atmosphere is full of fresh air.

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Luv♥Luv 2012/08/04 17:33:59

No

+2
Not really. Heat will kill me faster than A/C. Change your filters often and keep your unit clean.

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Commander Pyle 2012/08/04 16:40:46

No

Try living in a place that frequents 100 weather summer long. That recycled air is godsend.

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PumpkinMuncher 2012/08/04 16:30:20

No

+2
It may be true but I dont care, because heat strokes are bad for you as well.

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SA 2012/08/04 14:55:52

No

+1
Not as bad as the heat is. Because of my Epilepsy if I am too hot I can and have become dehydrated and ill. With my A/C on I can always cover up if I get cold.

But even taking a shower, keeping my hair wet does not do anything for me once I'm hot. Even drinking liquids do not help if I'm hot.

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Aurora 2012/08/04 14:49:56

Yes

But I love it, when it gets really hot and the humidity is the same as the temperature I love it, but my electric bill skyrockets. I think it is bad for you when you have to run in and out of the AC and the heat. I even catch myself saying to my husband and my kid to shut the door we are air conditioning the neighborhood. I remember my mom's air conditioning in the car when we were kids, roll all the windows down and drive 40 miles an hour.

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Leo Smulders 2012/08/04 14:11:12

No

Actually it can be good or bad at the same time, largely depends on various circumstances (one of them: how hot would it become if airco turned off).

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MW121 2012/08/04 11:22:28

No

Mine runs non-stop when it's hot.. I couldn't survive if I didn't have AC

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the fuze 2012/08/04 11:18:40

No

+2
I love how the article tries to divide us... even on the use of air conditioning, politically. A weak attempt at best.

I lean towards the conservative side of things but that has NO bearing on what I think about the weather. I can't stand humidity... THAT's why my AC is running.

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DANNY59 2012/08/04 11:11:00

Yes

I'm not saying it's harmful, it just drys out my throat, nose and mouth. Saying that though certainly doesn't mean I don't use it in the house. Here in Chicago we've had one of the hottest years on record, so I put up with a sore throat, and dry mouth, and stuffy nose.

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Black-I... to DANNY59 2012/08/05 18:01:54

Have you considered installing a humidifier? It would probably help with the dry throat and sinus irritation.

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DANNY59 to Black-I... 2012/08/05 22:35:00

Yes , we do have one and it helps to some degree. My biggest problem is, I take quite a few prescriptions that also cause dry mouth and throat, so it's really the combined effect of the AC/heating and the prescriptions.

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paul 2012/08/04 11:01:42

Yes

+2
Paying high electric bills is very Bad also.....I have to share the cat's dinner 2 days a week now....

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Luv♥Luv to paul 2012/08/04 17:31:38

+1
That's funny! Hope your joking. :-)

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paul to Luv♥Luv 2012/08/04 17:40:50

$200 a month for Air here in Las Vegas.......no Joke! Uh don't worry the cat gets to eat in peace :) besides she doesn't share.

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