Hot and Humid Air Affects Our Breathing Quality

lthough the air conditioners we use to escape from the warm weather and the intense humid air we live with are a lifesaver, they can lead to the development of some problems in our nose. Yeditepe University Hospital ENT Specialist said that increased complaints such as nasal congestion, inability to breathe comfortably and coughing are confused with allergies. They pointed out that it is necessary to consult a doctor for complaints that continue for more than a few days.

The rapid increase in heat and humidity causes swelling of the tissue laying inside the nose and swelling of the tissue in the nose. This results in the nose getting blocked, so we cannot breathe easily. In some people, nasal congestion can also cause problems such as runny nose, nasal discharge, and cough. Pointing out that these allergy-like complaints negatively affect the quality of life of the person, Yeditepe University Hospital ENT Specialist said that these problems become more prominent, especially in employees working in an air-conditioned office environment. This causes a feeling of fatigue, decreased energy, and increased tendency to sleep, as well as reduced productivity if not intervened. Since the quality of sleep at night is also impaired due to the inability to breathe comfortably through the nose, fatigue increases the next day and a vicious cycle occurs.

Dry Air Can Cause Nose Bleeding

Our specialist said that the air conditioners we use to avoid excessive humidity and heat in hot weather also disrupt the comfort of nose breathing: "Dry air causes the secretion in the nose to darken, dark secretion may cause sinus headache by blocking the sinus openings. Apart from this, the rapid transition from hot and humid air to dry air may also create a tendency to bleed in the vessels located in the nasal cover layer and swollen due to heat. Children are at risk for nosebleeds due to dry air. The environment should neither be too humid nor too dry for healthy nose breathing. Therefore, it would be appropriate to follow the ambient humidity and use a humidity meter. The ambient humidity should be kept between 30-50 percent. 

Allergic People Beware!

In people with allergic rhinitis, rapid changes in temperature and humidity can lead to even more severe allergic nose complaints. Allergic complaints such as itching, sneezing, and runny nose, which are under control under normal conditions, can reach a level that will disturb the person during periods when the weather heats up rapidly. Apart from these, house mites and mold allergens, which become more active in humid environments, can also cause nasal complaints such as nasal and nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing, or asthma-like respiratory diseases in people who have no allergic problems before. 

Recommendations for Protecting Our Nose in Hot Weather

Do not smoke/stay away from environmental irritants: Everyone, especially people with allergic bodies, should stay away from environmental irritants such as dust, smoke, room perfume, and surface disinfectant. It is also important to avoid smoking and exposure to passive cigarette smoke in order to prevent the triggering of allergic complaints. It is beneficial to wash the nose with water or nasal washing solutions after contact with such irritants.

Be careful when using air conditioning, care should also be taken to ensure that the environment is not extremely cold and dry. Therefore, especially those working in air-conditioned environments should pay attention and the ambient humidity should be kept between 30-50 percent.

Lie on your side at night. This is also helpful to lie on your side at night to reduce the effect of nasal congestion. In this way, it is possible to prevent fatigue the next day since a quality sleep process will be passed.

Do not use nasal sprays without the recommendation of a physician. The ENT Specialist emphasizes that sprays with a nasal opening effect should not be used outside of the recommendation of the physician during these periods when nasal congestion is intense. The use of nasal spray may cause a further increase in nasal congestion called the "rebound effect". However, those with allergic problems should not discontinue the drugs they regularly use during this period." 

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