Air Conditioner Does Not Cause Pneumonia, Says Doctor

With the onset of abnormal heat, cooling systems in offices and apartments are running at full power. However, foreign media are once again actively discussing a scary story: «Air conditioning causes pneumonia.»

A correspondent from UFA1.RU asked the chief physician of the RCIB (Republican Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital) to comment on this theory and tell what residents should actually fear.

«Let»s start with the main thing: an air conditioner itself does not cause pneumonia. It is not a virus or a bacterium. Pneumonia is an infectious inflammation of lung tissue caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. To get sick, a pathogen must enter the lungs,« debunks the scary story, Azat Mukhametzyanov.

However, according to the chief physician, the air conditioner cannot be called harmless. The doctor explained that the device acts as a powerful factor contributing to the development of the disease, and in two ways: it weakens the body«s defenses and becomes a breeding ground for pathogenic microorganisms.

«Imagine: it»s +35°C (95°F) outside, you enter an office where the air conditioner is blowing +18°C (64°F),« the doctor explains. »The body experiences a sharp temperature drop — this is stress that narrows the blood vessels of the nasal and throat mucosa. The activity of local immunity — those protective cells that live in the respiratory tract — decreases.«

As a result, as the specialist emphasizes, viruses and bacteria that previously peacefully slumbered in the nasopharynx get a chance to penetrate deeper. First, ARVI or bronchitis develops, and under unfavorable circumstances, the infection can descend into the lungs.

«Hypothermia does not strike directly into the lungs, but it opens the »gate« for infection,» the chief physician sums up.

To ensure that the air conditioner brings only coolness and not a hospital bed, chief physician Mukhametzyanov strongly recommends following a few simple rules:

Set the difference from the outdoor temperature to no more than 8°C (ideally 5–7°C).

Direct the louvers upward or to the side so that the air flow does not blow directly on people, especially on the head, neck, and back.

Wash removable fine filters under running water with soap solution every 2–3 weeks during active use.

Periodically open windows for ventilation — the air conditioner does not replace fresh air, it only cools and cleans it from dust, but does not remove carbon dioxide.

«An air conditioner is not the cause of pneumonia in the literal sense, but it can become an ideal assistant for infection if used incorrectly,» warns the expert. «The main enemies are dirty filters and sharp temperature changes. Regular maintenance, reasonable settings, and careful attention to your well-being will turn this device from potentially dangerous into a faithful friend on hot days.»

In conclusion, the chief physician of the infectious diseases hospital addressed the residents with an important warning:

«If after using the air conditioner you develop a cough, fever, and weakness, do not attribute it to a »cold« — consult a doctor. Timely diagnosis of pneumonia saves lives.»

Earlier we wrote that in the USA — in offices — a new virus has appeared that lives in air conditioners.