Anyone else having issues with their AC?

Let me know if I'm repeating something already mentioned here, but I was wondering if anyone else deals with issues regarding air conditioning?
Basically, the longer I spend in an air-conditioned room, the more likely I am to end up with a sore throat—usually full-blown strep.
Last time, I was traveling by ferry to my destination and caught it, then just this time I took an air-conditioned bus and, yep, sick again. I don't really touch the AC in my car, and things are fine at the office too, so... I don't know.
I tend to have throat problems, like strep, maybe twice a year—once in the winter and once in the summer—but the summer one only happens when I'm stuck in some chilled-out building. At this point, I honestly won't go anywhere unless I can drive my own car, because I just don't have the energy to be sick while I'm supposed to be on vacation.

Unfortunately, I’ve kicked off the year with my first big health scare, and of course, it had to be pneumonia! I was honestly a little bit floored when my doctor told me it was likely caused by the air conditioning, though apparently, I’m definitely not the only one dealing with this lately. I’m just crossing my fingers that there won't be any lasting issues and that I'll be able to head down to the coast for some beach time in just a week or two! I’ve already sent a little heads-up to my office letting them know that once I'm back, we are strictly turning off the AC 😠 ...but really, who is going to have the heart to argue with a sick person anyway? 😬

Yeah, unfortunately, that’s just how it goes...

My first thought when I'm only briefly out in the heat is always those bloodshot eyes...

Honestly, my life changed for the better about three years ago when we finally installed central AC. Before that, I remember waking up in my apartment at 8 AM feeling a literal heatwave hitting me—it was absolutely miserable.
Now, the second I feel like the house is getting too stuffy, I head straight for that blast of cold air. It’s my sanctuary. People always warn you about catching a cold from the vent, and normally, I’m the type who gets a sore throat if someone even looks at me funny, but I’ve been living with the AC running all year now and haven't had a single issue.

I can't stand using the AC when it's set to heat. That dry air just wrecks me—makes me feel lightheaded and leaves my mouth feeling completely parched.

I don't have any issues with it—in fact, I actually find it quite helpful... 😁

Sophia Newman said:Let me know if I'm totally repeating something already discussed, but I was wondering if anyone else deals with issues from air conditioning?
Basically, the longer I spend in an AC-cooled room, the more likely I am to end up with a sore throat—usually full-on strep throat.
Last time I took a ferry to my vacation spot, I ended up sick with strep, and just recently I hopped on an AC bus and caught it again. I don't even touch the AC in my car, and it’s the same at work, so everything is fine there.
I struggle with throat infections and strep about twice a year, both in the winter and during the summer, though the summer ones only happen when I'm stuck in some chilled-out building. Honestly, at this point, I won't go anywhere unless I'm driving myself because I really don't feel like being sick while I'm trying to enjoy a summer trip.

Maybe you should just get your tonsils out before you start complaining about the AC, lol😬

Nancy Garcia97 said:Sadly, it’s my first time dealing with this this year—and it’s nothing less than pneumonia!?! I’m losing my mind because my doctor thinks it was from the AC, though apparently, I’m not the only one. I really hope there aren't any major lasting issues and that I'll be back at the beach in maybe a week or two! I already told my office that once I get back, we’re turning the AC off 😠 ...but I guess who’s going to stand up to a sick person anyway? 😬

I started using the AC about 15 days ago, but these heatwaves have been brutal, so it’s basically running constantly. I didn't have any throat issues until recently—school wrapped up on June 21st, and then I woke up the very next day with a sore throat. Instead of just enjoying myself and catching up on paperwork, printing out testimonials, and doing all that nice stuff while swimming in the ocean, I have to put the fun on hold because I started coughing. My body is just silly like that—when I'm stressed, everything works perfectly, but the second it's time to relax, I just crash. It was the same way after my last college final.
And now my chest hurts when I drink water, and I have this dry cough here and there. I picked up some Johnson & Johnson expectorant syrup. —I don't know if it's actually pneumonia, though; I've never had it before. Honestly, I'm kind of scared to go to the doctor. I don't have a fever, my throat doesn't hurt when I swallow, and my breathing seems fine. What do you guys think? 😕
Man, I would love to be swimming, the beach is right in front of my house!

I don't have one, but my head sure does. I can't tell if it's just a draft or something else, but man, this AC is making my head feel like it's about to split wide open.

I am absolutely losing it because of this AC

I’m curious to hear how you guys deal with AC, because honestly, it feels like people have absolutely no clue how to use it properly.
My first real run-in with a bad AC setup was about ten years ago during my high school graduation trip to Spain. We were stuck on a bus for a solid 24 hours, and the air conditioning was cranked so high that even in the middle of summer, we were all shivering in long sleeves and sweats (everyone was basically living in their Nike tracksuits back then😁 ).
By the time we finally arrived, I had almost completely lost my voice, which was weird because I hadn't even been singing or anything. Then, for the next week, I was constantly fighting off whatever that was, only to end up with a sore throat again on the way home from that same AC—it wasn't as bad the second time, but still😬
It seems to happen every single time now... maybe the cooling is just too aggressive? I don't know, I guess...

Here is my personal rule of thumb for managing indoor climate. The most important factor is the delta between the outdoor temperature and your indoor setting; you really shouldn't let that gap exceed 7 degrees, though aiming for a 5-degree difference is even more effective.
To put it plainly, if you are facing a brutal heatwave with temperatures hitting 100°F outside, you should set your thermostat to no lower than 85°F rather than cranking it down to a freezing 72°F. But of course, people rarely listen—they complain about the heat and then insist on dropping the AC to 72°F just to feel a temporary relief. That is exactly when the real problems start.

With these massive temperature swings, it doesn't help that people just completely neglect their AC units.
I mean, seriously, how many people actually bother to wash the filters, disinfect the evaporators, or—heaven forbid—use those tablets meant to stop bugs and grime from building up? If you're someone with allergies, that stuff will absolutely wreck you.

Honestly, I’ve loved this weather for years—never had an issue... until a few days ago when I spent a bit too much time sleeping with the AC blasting right on me. Now my head is throbbing and my throat is starting to act up, too. Still, I'm not giving up the cool air just yet.

So, I have air conditioning at my office, but none at home, and I’ve noticed that ever since we started using the AC at work a few years back, I seem to get sick—you know, things like a runny nose and watery eyes and all that. My doctor definitely suspects it might be some kind of allergy, so she prescribes me these medications that seem to help every single time. I suppose I’m not entirely sure if it’s an actual allergy to the air conditioning itself, or if it’s just a regular cold that happens to coincide with when the AC gets turned on, though it might not even be related at all. But, since it hit me pretty hard again this year, I guess I’ve started to suspect the AC might actually be the culprit.

Back at my old apartment, I had AC installed—because let’s be honest, without it, I wouldn't have survived the summer, given how the sun just beats down on those south-facing windows all day long. No issues there.

But now? The air at work absolutely nukes my skin. It’s incredibly drying, which is infuriating since we’re constantly toggling between blasting the heat and freezing ourselves out.👎

Then there’s the public transit situation. They tend to crank the AC way too high, and after a long haul—say, a six-hour commute—I always end up coming down with a cold.

I really think these units need regular maintenance, and once they're running, people actually need to set them to a reasonable temperature.