What Causes Coughing When Using Cold Air Conditioning?

Generally, coughing caused by exposure to cold air from an air conditioner may be due to factors such as cold air irritation, dry air, upper respiratory tract infection, chronic pharyngitis, or cough-variant asthma. Symptomatic management through general care and medication is usually recommended. If symptoms are severe, timely medical consultation and following medical advice for treatment are advised. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Cold Air Irritation

When the air conditioner is running, the indoor temperature drops suddenly and the airflow is strong. Cold air directly irritates the throat through the respiratory tract, triggering a stress reaction that causes coughing. It is recommended to appropriately increase the air conditioner's temperature setting and control the airflow speed to avoid direct exposure of the body to cold air. Maintaining indoor humidity also helps alleviate symptoms.

2. Dry Air

During air conditioner operation, indoor humidity often decreases, making the air dry. Dry air can irritate the respiratory mucosa and easily cause coughing, often accompanied by dry throat and discomfort. Using a humidifier or placing a water basin indoors can help increase air humidity. Additionally, drinking more water can help relieve cough caused by dry air.

3. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

A cold air environment from the air conditioner may dry the mucous membranes in the nasal cavity and throat, weakening the local immune barrier, allowing viruses or bacteria to cause infection, resulting in symptoms such as coughing and sore throat, possibly accompanied by fever, headache, and muscle pain. It is recommended to use medications such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, paracetamol tablets, and loquat cough syrup according to medical advice to relieve symptoms.

4. Chronic Pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis is a chronic inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, submucosa, and lymphoid tissues, often caused by bacterial infection or allergic factors. Exposure to cold air may trigger pharyngitis, causing symptoms such as cough, foreign body sensation, and dry throat. It is recommended to use medications such as cetidine lozenges, compound Sarcandra glabra lozenges, and amoxicillin capsules under a doctor's guidance for treatment.

5. Cough-Variant Asthma

Cough-variant asthma may result from the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors. The main symptom is coughing, which may be triggered by cold air when the air conditioner is turned on. It is recommended to use medications such as salbutamol aerosol, budesonide inhalation aerosol, and montelukast sodium chewable tablets according to medical instructions to alleviate symptoms.

In daily life, maintaining appropriate indoor temperature and humidity, and regularly cleaning the air conditioner filter can help prevent cough symptoms.

References

[1] Chen Liang. "Air Conditioner Sickness" Causes Coughing [J]. Family Chinese Medicine, 2019, 26(07):5.

[2] Zhou Ye. Dizziness, Headache, and Nausea Caused by "Air Conditioner Sickness" [J]. Health Wonders, 2014, (09):18.