Air Conditioning - RA

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(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Air_conditioner & action=edit & section=1\

6) ] Health implications

Air conditioning has no greater influence on health than heating—that is to

say, very little—although poorly maintained air-conditioning systems

(especially large, centralized systems) can occasionally promote the growth and

spread

of microorganisms, such as _Legionella pneumophila_

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legionella_pneumophila) , the infectious agent

responsible for

_Legionnaire's disease_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legionnaire's_disease) ,

or

thermophilic _actinomycetes_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actinomycetes) ._[4]_

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_conditioner#_note-3) Conversely, air

conditioning (including filtration, humidification, cooling, disinfection,

etc.)

can be used to provide a clean, safe, _hypoallergenic_

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic) atmosphere in hospital operating

rooms and other

environments where an appropriate atmosphere is critical to patient safety and

well-being. Air conditioning can have a positive effect on sufferers of

_allergies_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergy) and _asthma_

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthma) ._[5]_

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_conditioner#_note-4)

In serious _heat waves_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_wave) , air

conditioning can save the lives of the elderly. Some local authorities even set

up

public _cooling centers_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling_center) for

the benefit of those without air conditioning at home.

WIKIPEDIA Web Site

PS~ My mother had Osteo Arthritis and could not tolerate air conditioning.

She was quite thin. Individual body temperature, aging and loss of body mass

would determine how air conditioning affects someone. Commercial temp for

the DaimlerChrysler Headquarters is 74 degrees. My husband said some employees

feel that is too cold. Found a secretary typing with her gloves on one

time. In our home, we use hypoallergenic filters and change them frequently.

Mechanically maintaining your unit is important too.

Although many people superstitiously believe that air conditioning is

unconditionally dangerous for one's health, especially in areas where air

condition

ing is not common, this belief is unsupported by fact; properly maintained

air-conditioning systems do not cause or promote illness. As with heating

systems, the advantages of air conditioning generally far outweigh the

disadvantages

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