My husband (cf'er) runs our air from (at least) April through (at least) October. (I'm mostly used to it now, but still freeze!). By the way, we live in NW IN (Chicagoland). Muggy, and poor air quality. My question is: do you guys do that, too? His NP said she thought air conditioning would actually make it harder to breathe or cough more, or something, but he has to have it verrrrrrrrrrry cold. Thanks for your input.
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Air conditioning
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
I'm not sure if she meant the temperature being cold would make him cough or what she was referring to.
Do you have the unit cleaned/serviced regularly? I would think that if you do & change the filters maybe every 30 days or so that it should be OK, but I'm no expert, just my opinion. Also, if the unit has a built in humidifier, that may cause some mold issues. Again, I'm just speculating.
I have to have A/C too for about that same period of time. If I open windows on a humid day, I have a harder time breathing, so even if the a/c is bad (which I'm not sure I agree with), the humidity makes it hard too. Catch 22?
Maybe the fact that if it's a window unit vs. central air makes a difference??
I have called my county Environmental Protection Agency to ask questions, so possibly you could ask them what their take is on this.
Do you have the unit cleaned/serviced regularly? I would think that if you do & change the filters maybe every 30 days or so that it should be OK, but I'm no expert, just my opinion. Also, if the unit has a built in humidifier, that may cause some mold issues. Again, I'm just speculating.
I have to have A/C too for about that same period of time. If I open windows on a humid day, I have a harder time breathing, so even if the a/c is bad (which I'm not sure I agree with), the humidity makes it hard too. Catch 22?
Maybe the fact that if it's a window unit vs. central air makes a difference??
I have called my county Environmental Protection Agency to ask questions, so possibly you could ask them what their take is on this.
I think as a rule people with respiratory problems like having the temperature a but cooler than most folks. I am definitely more bothered by the heat and humidity than the rest of my family! My cf doc encourages me to use the a/c to improve the air quality, make breathing easier and keep me more comfortable. I have never heard of a/c making it more difficult to breathe/cough. Sorry you are cold though!
Kim
40 w/cf
Kim
40 w/cf
Our childrens hospital funded the purchase for two air conditoners for my boys, one for their bedroom and one for the downstairs, as they have a really hard time breathing in the humidity. They have never seemed to suffer through running them, we have them going from June to September.
2
2sickkids
Guest
I have bad lungs 38% or lower and my sons both have cf. If I get hot I get very sick I can't breath to the point of passing out. Both boys retract bad at temp above 78. So we tend to use ac a lot. We don't even go in the front room if it gets warm. It doesn't have a window ac. When I get hot it feels like I am being choked.
My daughter has to have it very cold as well. Seems like we run the air conditioner year round - but, this is the only way she is comfortable. Her doctor says it's related to the respiratory problems - also her metabolism is so high because her body is constantly fighting off infection. During the summer she also likes a fan blowing on her at night while she sleeps.
Emily65Roses
New member
I <3 air conditioning. I'd have it on all the time if I could. Haha. It's so nice. Especially, no matter what time of year, when I have a coughing fit, because those always get me hot and sweaty. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
NoDayButToday
New member
I love AC! It helps me breathe so much better. Aside from the breathing issues though, in the summer it helps us CFers not dehydrate so easily (less sweating, less salt loss, less possibility of dehydration)
Mockingbird
New member
I think air conditioners dry out the air. That is probably what she meant would make it difficult for him. Maybe if you had a humidifyer going at the same time as the air conditioner, that would help.
Jarod
22 w/cf
Jarod
22 w/cf
S
SeasonsOfLove
Guest
Running an Air Conditioner definitely lowers inside humidity levels. We've been told that the ideal humidity level is between 30-50%, and once it gets hot or humid outside - we need to run an AC to stay within that range.
Have a good day,
Have a good day,
You can buy a humidity guage at the store, we have, and the inside humidity usually doesn't get over 60% with the a/c on. I guess I would be concerned that running a humidifier in the summer would make it too humid inside. I know heat can dry, but wasn't aware of a/c having a drying effect.
I live in southern Illinois so I understand the weather. Summers here are so unbearably humid. I usually have to turn on the a/c in April so I can breathe easier. Unfortunately, it runs all spring, summer, and fall....until the temperatures start to cool down considerably. Without it, breathing is very difficult.
Dea
31 w/CF
Dea
31 w/CF
This is making me nervous! We live in So. California, so humidity isn't a problem here. But my daughter is going to spend 2 weeks in Southern Ohio this summer where it will be Hot and Humid! Other than staying inside where it's air conditioned, what else can she do if the humidity makes it harder for her to breathe? To those of you who have had more trouble breathing when it is hot, do you usually have some trouble breathing year-round, or is this just a summer problem? (My daughter only very rarely feels wheezy or any trouble breathing, so maybe it won't be a problem in the humidity.)
From original poster - thanks to all who responded. Makes me glad I do not complain (too much) about how cold my house is! I'm glad air conditioning helps you all breathe - we will check the humidity levels. We knew it 'dried' the air out, but I guess we've never been told of the optimal range. I'm sure the dryness is what the NP was referring to.
Regarding the So. Cal girl spending 2 weeks in Ohio, (So. Cal. - isn't that smoggy? - I'm not aware how humid So. Cal. is) she should be fine if there is air conditioning available to her when she needs it). Of course, I don't know how hard a time she currently has breathing (does she have an inhaler, nebs, etc?) but she should be okay. I grew up with my husband and when he was that age, and well into his early 40's he was mostly fine outside - just had to be careful as always (fluid/salt intake, etc.). Mostly midwest air is great. I just live close to the steel mills and a very highly traveled crossroads interstate where semis run constantly. Hope she has a great time.
Regarding the So. Cal girl spending 2 weeks in Ohio, (So. Cal. - isn't that smoggy? - I'm not aware how humid So. Cal. is) she should be fine if there is air conditioning available to her when she needs it). Of course, I don't know how hard a time she currently has breathing (does she have an inhaler, nebs, etc?) but she should be okay. I grew up with my husband and when he was that age, and well into his early 40's he was mostly fine outside - just had to be careful as always (fluid/salt intake, etc.). Mostly midwest air is great. I just live close to the steel mills and a very highly traveled crossroads interstate where semis run constantly. Hope she has a great time.
I have actually moved to a different state where there is less humidity. Plus, with the humidity the news begins to put warnings of pollution in the air for people with lung problems espeically. That makes me really angry actually, because if people didn't think about money all the time we wouldn't need to put on a mask to go outside. Biggest reason why I left is that in the long run I am going against mother nature and the stupid government. In the last 3-4 years since the government lifted regulations on car to get emission test yearly my lung infections doubled if not tripled. I used to have only one lung infection a year maybe, then it kept raising. Now, combined with less humidity and living in a state that cares about the envirnment more, I am back down to one. I am still trying to work with that one.
For the original poster, my doc has always encourage and actually told my mother at one time that I was not to be without a/c. I breathe much better in a climate without as much humidity and I have had two near heat strokes. I always think about my lungs first off, but then I think about always having Gatorade with me when it's hot and humid, or just hot. Whenever I am in a state that it's really hot and humid and I am loosing salt much faster, my sugars always seem to tag along. It is not a good place to be.
Also, to the post with child visiting Ohio, as long as your daughter has access to a place with air conditioning she should be fine. If it is going to be really humid I would have gatorade at close reach, but I am not sure if she has ever had that problem even with heat.
Tessa 27 w/cf
For the original poster, my doc has always encourage and actually told my mother at one time that I was not to be without a/c. I breathe much better in a climate without as much humidity and I have had two near heat strokes. I always think about my lungs first off, but then I think about always having Gatorade with me when it's hot and humid, or just hot. Whenever I am in a state that it's really hot and humid and I am loosing salt much faster, my sugars always seem to tag along. It is not a good place to be.
Also, to the post with child visiting Ohio, as long as your daughter has access to a place with air conditioning she should be fine. If it is going to be really humid I would have gatorade at close reach, but I am not sure if she has ever had that problem even with heat.
Tessa 27 w/cf
We live in Dallas Texas, the air here is insane!! From about June to September the average temp is 90-100+ degrees, constant ozone alert days, terrible humidity, not to mention the smog in around the city. Our air-conditioning went out when my son was about 2months old (before he was diagnosed with CF) and he almost died. In the time it took to pack our things up and go stay at a hotel, he went from a happy little baby to a pale, clammy, and limp child. He recovered fine after IV fluids, But I was horrified. We keep the A/C on all the time. except in winter. He breathes a million times better with AC on, and only goes outside in the heat if he is going swimming.