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

frozenKmadness 2012/08/04 10:17:33

Yes

+1
Well, it could be. It's dangerous for you to be in a room where due to the air conditioning the temperature is 20 degrees and then go outside where it's like 15 degrees hotter.

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Illjwamh 2012/08/04 09:02:37

No

+1
No, but fans can kill you.

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Nish 2012/08/04 08:53:31

Yes

Sometimes air condition cause to me block my nose and feel breathing disoder

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Illjwamh to Nish 2012/08/04 22:12:10

+1
That means you need to clean/change the filter.

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Nish to Illjwamh 2012/08/06 08:39:39

yeah maybe brother:))

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Emily Barrington 2012/08/04 07:32:33 (edited)

Yes

It nade me ill on what could have been a good holiday -_- the air conditioning got to my lungs and I was stuck in bed for days on end with a nasty cough.

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Jessica 2012/08/04 06:09:26

No

+1
The air conditioner isn't going to make the quality of air around me any worse. I assure you. All it can do is make me cold, and I certainly welcome that in summer.

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Bunk11 2012/08/04 05:24:42

No

An oddly balanced article for Slate.com. Air conditioning is way better than heat stroke.

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Somkey the Hores 2012/08/04 05:06:50

Yes

Yes.

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buneter 2012/08/04 04:25:18

No

i dont care if it s ahealth risk or not im not ging to edie from heat exaust at 100* because my air might be bad for me

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Nilam 2012/08/04 04:00:05

No

+1
i work in a garage, its prolly 5-10 degree's hotter inside then out, its like working in an oven. coming home to a/c is nothing but good!

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Relay 2012/08/04 03:59:02

No

+1
it keeps people happy and that's all that matters... plus i make good money installing ac units :)

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gingin6 2012/08/04 03:24:59

Yes

Many don't realize it can be bad to have it on all the time. It's good to sweat a bit. Having it cold can cause allergens and effect your respiratory system. Esp if you dont change filters often enough. I only turn it on when necessary but beside the cost, I don't feel good having it all the time.

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Aurora to gingin6 2012/08/04 14:52:14

Well that kinda flies in the face of you should keep you heater down in the winter due to the cold killing germs.

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Michael S. 2012/08/04 03:19:34

No

Ask the elderly who routinely die of hyperthermia without air conditioning...

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Haruko.Haruhara 2012/08/04 03:13:02
william raggett 2012/08/04 02:56:29

No

I do air conditioning and it doesn't have to be stale recycled air and in commercial buildings and public buildings you have to bring in fresh air and condition it

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American Nate 2012/08/04 02:35:16 (edited)

No

I hope not, otherwise everyone in Florida would be dead. It can get up to 90F in January and is hot & humid all year.

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charles nelson 2012/08/04 02:24:18

Yes

+1
I think its bad for this country because its caused a shift in the population making people to get higher concentrations of UV rays which we all know causes brain damage giving you a funny accent and believe anything Fox tells you.

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Muver 2012/08/04 02:15:17

No

+1
I grew up in the era pre air conditioning...our airconditioning was a fixed floor fan that you literally laid in front of to feel a little cool, but when the house is 90 degrees, it doesn't do much...and the windows were always open in the summer....OR if you were lucky you
got to lay in bed in a stiffiling hot bedroom sweating while waiting for the small oscellating
fan to blow back across your body....if you had a little extra money, you could buy another fan...Window fans were the most popular as they sucked the hot air in the house out, therefore making you think you felt cooler...I can tell you, it was pretty miserable...
Some people would put a big chunk of ice, from the ice house, in a pan in front of a fan...our version of air conditoning...cars were not air conditioned either...they were available, but to expensive for most...air conditioning in cars in the 40's 50's and 60's was
that little front sort of triangle shaped window, in front of the big window...and you positioned it to blow in your face as you drove...back windows had them as well, but at the back part of the window...of course the windows rolled down as well...My first
taste of air conditioning was in the middle 60's in my first apartment...first airconditioned car...was in the 70's....Air conditioning ...

I grew up in the era pre air conditioning...our airconditioning was a fixed floor fan that you literally laid in front of to feel a little cool, but when the house is 90 degrees, it doesn't do much...and the windows were always open in the summer....OR if you were lucky you
got to lay in bed in a stiffiling hot bedroom sweating while waiting for the small oscellating
fan to blow back across your body....if you had a little extra money, you could buy another fan...Window fans were the most popular as they sucked the hot air in the house out, therefore making you think you felt cooler...I can tell you, it was pretty miserable...
Some people would put a big chunk of ice, from the ice house, in a pan in front of a fan...our version of air conditoning...cars were not air conditioned either...they were available, but to expensive for most...air conditioning in cars in the 40's 50's and 60's was
that little front sort of triangle shaped window, in front of the big window...and you positioned it to blow in your face as you drove...back windows had them as well, but at the back part of the window...of course the windows rolled down as well...My first
taste of air conditioning was in the middle 60's in my first apartment...first airconditioned car...was in the 70's....Air conditioning is an awesome invention...and good for your health...keeps your blood pressure down, allergies at bay, and sucks dust and allergy
particles out the house or room, that is why the filters get dirty and need frequent cleaning...I could do without several things, air conditioning would not be one if I could help it...I feel good when I am cool....not so much when I am hot and sweating..
(more)

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Aurora to Muver 2012/08/04 14:54:03 (edited)

+1
I remember the big chunks of ice I went with my Grandpa one day to get one and we put in front of a box fan and laid in front of it. Nice memories but I do like my AC. We also used the attic fan and open windows talk about respiratory problems OMG

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Muver to Aurora 2012/08/06 19:24:39

+1
I miss a lot of things from the past....but I really do not miss that...LOL

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clasact 2012/08/04 02:09:48

No

+1
no sleep because it to damm hot,not wanting to eat because its to damm hot...thats bad for you A/C ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh good

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Elizabeth 2012/08/04 02:03:51

No

+1
air conditioning just cools you down? whats so bad about that?

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MOMMA THOMAS 2012/08/04 01:25:32

Yes

I EITHER CATCH A COLD OR HAVE ASTHMA (IF THE FILTER IS SMELLY.)

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SA to MOMMA T... 2012/08/04 15:05:15

I also have Asthma. That is why we change the filter often.

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MOMMA T... to SA 2012/08/04 17:48:31

NEVER HAD ASTHMA UNTIL MY WORKPLACE BARRED THE WINDOWS SO THAT THEY COULDN'T BE OPENED, AND INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONING.

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SA to MOMMA T... 2012/08/04 17:53:34

I never had Asthma until I worked downtown where the pollution is really bad. Since I moved and no onger work there my asthma is under control.

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Monty to MOMMA T... 2012/08/05 02:14:11

they made the windows so they couldn't be opened?? why?

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MOMMA T... to Monty 2012/08/05 06:14:38

TOO MANY COSTLY BREAK-INS.

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Monty to MOMMA T... 2012/08/05 14:50:41

argh,too bad ppl have to ruin others getting fresh air

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lucythetooth 2012/08/04 00:58:55

No

+1
Passing out from heat exhaustion is bad for me.

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thefatguy 2012/08/04 00:46:52 (edited)

No

I don't think it's bad for but I don't have A/C. I use a Fujitsu heat pump for my HVAC needs. Whisper quiet, low profile, ductless (no leaks) and cheap to run. I absolutely love it. But, not cheap (to purchase, I mean).

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mikeeonly 2012/08/04 00:10:30

No

there should be fresh air exchange

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Stevethinks 2012/08/04 00:07:47

No

Not unless you are living in Alaska in the dead of winter.

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Mamaknows 2012/08/03 23:37:40

Yes

I think it can be if you have breathing issuses....or are sensitive.

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Recruit 2012/08/03 23:13:10
jubil8 BN-0 PON 2012/08/03 22:53:40

Yes

It's not all good/all bad. If you have allergies/asthma, it can be a godsend. If you live in a hot climate, it can let you get work done you couldn't finish as quickly.

But... if you work in a skyscraper, the enclosed system can set off your allergies too. "Sick buildings" are for real. And cold temps can set you up for a nasty summer virus.

On balance I'm glad I have it, but I prefer not to use it if I don't have to.

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spencerc143 2012/08/03 22:27:22 (edited)

Yes

I hit the damn no button!

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cnsharp 2012/08/03 22:24:14

No

I'm sure it's not as great as fresh air but at least I'll be in poor cool air, and not passing out from a fresh air heat stroke.

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