Alert! Sudden change from hot to cold can be harmful to your health

We all are too tempted to switch on the air conditioner as soon as we reach home after a tiring day. But we have always been advised against it, right? Have you ever wondered why? There is a reason.
Experts say that a sudden drop in temperature from hot to cold can be harmful to the human body and especially for people who have chronic cold-related problems.
A sudden and extreme change in temperature between inside and outside harms the body. It puts the body under stress as it is forced to adjust itself from a hot environment to an air-conditioned one.
This sudden change in temperature can dry your skin, the mucus membrane and eyes. Many people complain of itchy eyes and sneezing as soon as they reach their office, the possible reason behind which can be the change in temperature between inside and outside. This can even cause eye, respiratory infections and muscle spasm.
Other problems that can occur owing to sudden dip or rise in temperature are runny nose, asthma attacks, muscular pains, sinusitis, flu, cold, sore throat, severe pains and muscular aches.
The ideal temperature inside malls, offices, hospitals and other such closed organisations should be between 23 degrees to 25 degrees to ensure healthy living and susceptibility to diseases, advice experts. However, it is rarely followed.
Extremely low temperature can worsen one's existing medical condition, especially in older people. The condition of people with respiratory problems might get much worse. When the temperature is too hot outside, it is recommended to put off your air conditioner for a while before stepping out straight in the sun.
Hospitals should especially be cautious about their indoor temperatures because extremely low temperatures might make patients even sicker. Thus, the temperature in the hospitals should be monitored closely.
According to the last year's headlines, the rains in October led to fluctuating temperature due to which a steady rise in gastrointestinal and typhoid cases was observed.
Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospital says that our body needs time to acclimatize from extreme hot to cold or extreme cold to hot temperature. When a person makes shifts between extreme temperatures, the blood vessels are affected. In winters, our blood vessels store heat while in summers it is the opposite and this sudden change in temperature affects the process, which affects our heart as well, adds Dr Chatterjee.
It always advised to slowly switch temperatures to prevent it from affecting our bodily systems. Whenever there is a change in the temperature, our immunity goes for a toss and that is why we often fall sick or get viral infections when the weather changes suddenly.
He further adds that the ideal temperature for closed spaces like malls, offices, schools and hospital should be what suits people and make them feel comfortable. Though the ideal temperature can be around 20 degrees to 22 degrees with no hard and fast rule.
On being asked how sudden change in temperature can affect our health, Dr Romil Tikku, Internal Medicine, Max Hospital says that it can cause extreme discomfort to people with respiratory issues. Patients of asthma, sinusitis and other respiratory issues can be in acute distress. Cardiac events in patients with existing heart issues can also take place. Such people should also not work or sleep in too low temperatures for avoiding allergies, attacks and infections.
The ideal temperature for closed spaces can be around 23 degrees to 24 degrees, depending on the comfort level of the people, suggests Dr Romil.
Dr Tarun Sahni, Physician, Apollo Hospital while talking about the sudden change in temperature says that when it happens, the natural body reflexes get affected, which leads to the hampering of the protective layer of the brain. He cites an example, "When you feel extremely hot, you want to have water but when you come inside and sit in an air-conditioned room, your thirst for water vanishes, which is not a good thing."
He adds the chances of viral infections and allergies also increase.
People who work in air-conditioned spaces
Spending long hours in air condition either at home or work can make you heat intolerant when you go outside. This may make you feel exhausted when you get exposed to the outside heat. Dizziness, fatigue, headache, difficulty in breathing even heat stroke may occur in such people.
And if you suffer from allergies, spending prolonged hours in air condition can worsen your symptoms, especially if the mould is circulating in the air.
Studies say if the air in an air-conditioned space is poorly circulated and contains allergens, one can suffer from allergies, itchy eyes, dizziness, headache and difficulty in breathing. Drying out of the mucous membrane can increase the incidences of respiratory conditions.
What can be done
Do not switch between extreme temperatures. If you are sitting in an AC room and you have to go out, switch off the AC for some time so that the heat outside doesn’t feel harsh on the body. And when you come from outside, do not switch on the AC instantly but rather switch to fan or cooler.