Saturday, July 12, 2025

How to Tell If It’s Air Conditioning Sickness or COVID-19

Newsis

Recently, South Korea has seen a surge in the detection of the Omicron subvariant KP.3, leading to a rise in COVID-19 cases. At the same time, the prolonged heatwave has increased the use of air conditioning, resulting in more cases of air conditioning sickness. This condition closely resembles the early symptoms of COVID-19, making it challenging to distinguish between the two.

Professor Choi Jun Yong from Severance Hospital’s Infectious Disease Department highlighted the issue, stating, “The symptoms of air conditioning sickness closely resemble the early symptoms of COVID-19.” He stressed the importance of differentiating between the two conditions to ensure appropriate responses.

Both air conditioning sickness and early COVID-19 share similar symptoms, such as respiratory issues (runny nose, sneezing), digestive discomfort, fatigue, and lethargy.

Extended exposure to air conditioning can cause the body to shiver or feel cold as it tries to generate warmth, which might lead to headaches.

If you experience cold-like symptoms after spending a long time in an air-conditioned environment, it’s important to warm up and get plenty of rest. However, you should seek medical attention if symptoms such as muscle pain, coughing, or a fever above 37.5°C (99.5°F) persist. This will help rule out not only COVID-19 but also Legionella infections, which can be associated with air conditioning sickness.

COVID-19 often presents with high fever, severe muscle pain, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. If your symptoms don’t improve or you experience unique symptoms like a loss of smell or taste, getting tested for COVID-19 is recommended.

Preventing air conditioning sickness involves several key practices. Clean your air conditioning filters at least every two weeks and ensure they are thoroughly dried in sunlight after washing. Additionally, ventilate your room for at least five minutes every two hours and maintain indoor temperatures between 24°C to 26°C (77°F to 78.8°F) while using air conditioning.

To guard against COVID-19, follow personal hygiene practices like regular handwashing. Those at high risk, including the elderly and individuals with underlying health conditions, should wear masks in crowded areas. Since the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine wanes after six months, high-risk groups should receive an annual booster shot.

Professor Choi stressed, “Above all, maintaining a balanced diet and consistent exercise is crucial for protecting against air conditioning sickness, COVID-19, and other health issues.”

Hot this week

Coffee Prices Jump After Trump Hits Brazil With 50% Tariff

Coffee prices surged after Trump's 50% tariff on Brazil, leading to retaliatory measures and a drop in Brazilian stocks.

Trump Pushes New 15–20% Tariffs on U.S. Trading Partners

Trump plans to impose 15%-20% tariffs on many trading partners, including a 35% tariff on Canada starting August 1.

Qualcomm’s Top AI Chip Now Powers the Galaxy Z Fold 7

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite platform will power Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, enhancing AI and performance in mobile innovation.

Nvidia Hits $4 Trillion Market Cap, Becomes First to Do It

Nvidia breaks the 4 trillion USD market cap, becoming the first to achieve this milestone in the AI semiconductor market.

Wall Street Ends Mixed as Nvidia Nears $4 Trillion, Tesla Rebounds

The NY stock market showed mixed results with Nvidia nearing a $4 trillion cap, while tariffs and Musk's politics impact Tesla.

Topics

Coffee Prices Jump After Trump Hits Brazil With 50% Tariff

Coffee prices surged after Trump's 50% tariff on Brazil, leading to retaliatory measures and a drop in Brazilian stocks.

Trump Pushes New 15–20% Tariffs on U.S. Trading Partners

Trump plans to impose 15%-20% tariffs on many trading partners, including a 35% tariff on Canada starting August 1.

Qualcomm’s Top AI Chip Now Powers the Galaxy Z Fold 7

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite platform will power Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, enhancing AI and performance in mobile innovation.

Nvidia Hits $4 Trillion Market Cap, Becomes First to Do It

Nvidia breaks the 4 trillion USD market cap, becoming the first to achieve this milestone in the AI semiconductor market.

Wall Street Ends Mixed as Nvidia Nears $4 Trillion, Tesla Rebounds

The NY stock market showed mixed results with Nvidia nearing a $4 trillion cap, while tariffs and Musk's politics impact Tesla.

Oil Prices Climb Again as Red Sea Tensions Escalate

International oil prices rise due to U.S. tariff threats and tensions in the Red Sea, with Brent crude at $70.15 per barrel.

Tesla Tanks $68B as Musk Unveils New Political Party

The New York stock market declines after Trump imposes tariffs on South Korea and Japan, with Tesla losing $68 billion in value.

Oil Prices Climb After Saudi Arabia Hikes Export Rates

Saudi Arabia's surprise oil price hike boosts international oil prices, impacting markets and South Korea's oil imports significantly.

Related Articles