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Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
What is sick building syndrome? The condition linked to air conditioners
Air conditioning can feel heaven-sent on hot summer days. It keeps temperatures comfortable and controls humidity, making indoor environments tolerable even on the most brutally warm days. But some people avoid using air conditioning (AC) no matter how hot it gets outside, out of fear that it will make them sick. While this may sound far-fetched to some, as a microbiologist, I can say this fear isn't altogether unfounded. If an air conditioning system malfunctions or isn't properly maintained, it can become contaminated with infectious microbes. This can turn your AC unit into a potential source of numerous airborne infections – ranging from the common cold to pneumonia. Sick buildings 'Sick building syndrome' is the general name for symptoms that can develop after spending extended periods of time in air-conditioned environments. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, a congested or runny nose, a persistent cough or wheeze, skin irritation or rashes, trouble focusing on work and tiredness. The condition tends to occur in people who work in office settings, but it can happen to anyone who spends extended periods of time in air-conditioned buildings such as hospitals. The symptoms of sick building syndrome tend to get worse the longer you're in a particular building, and are alleviated after you leave. A 2023 study from India compared 200 healthy adults who worked at least six-to-eight hours per day in an air-conditioned office with 200 healthy adults who didn't work in AC. The AC group experienced more symptoms consistent with sick building syndrome over the two-year study period – particularly a higher prevalence of allergies. Importantly, clinical tests showed that those who were exposed to AC had poorer lung function and were absent from work more often, compared with the non-AC group. Other studies have confirmed that AC office workers have a higher prevalence of sick building syndrome than those who do not work in an air-conditioned environment. It's suspected that one cause of sick building syndrome is malfunctioning air conditioners. When an AC unit isn't working properly, it can release allergens, chemicals and airborne microorganisms into the air that it would normally have trapped. Malfunctioning air conditioners can also release chemical vapours from AC cleaning products or refrigerants into the building's air. Chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde and toluene are toxic and can irritate the respiratory system. Poorly maintained air conditioning systems can also harbour bacterial pathogens, which can cause serious infections. Legionella pneumophila is the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease – a lung infection contracted from inhaling droplets of water containing these bacteria. They tend to grow in water-rich environments such as hot tubs or air conditioning systems. A Legionella infection is most often caught in communal places such as hotels, hospitals or offices, where the bacteria have contaminated the water supply. Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease are similar to pneumonia, causing coughing, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, fever and general flu-like symptoms. Symptoms usually begin to show between two and 14 days after being exposed to Legionella. Legionella infections can be life-threatening and often require hospitalisation. Recovery can take several weeks. Fungal and viral infections The accumulation of dust and moisture inside air conditioning systems can also create the right conditions for other infectious microbes to grow. For instance, research on hospital AC systems has found that fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Rhizopusspecies commonly accumulate within the water-rich areas of hospital ventilation systems. These fungal infections can be serious in vulnerable patients such as those who are immunocompromised, have had an organ transplant or are on dialysis – as well as babies who were born premature. For example, Aspergillus causes pneumonia, abscesses of the lungs, brain, liver, spleen, kidneys and skin, and can also infect burns and wounds. Symptoms of fungal infections are mostly respiratory and include persistent wheeze or cough, fever, shortness of breath, tiredness and unexplained loss of weight. Viral infections can also be caught from air conditioning. One case study revealed that children in a Chinese kindergarten class were infected with the norovirus pathogen from their AC system. This caused 20 students to experience the stomach flu. While norovirus is usually transmitted through close contact with an infected person or after touching a contaminated surface, in this instance it was confirmed, unusually, that the virus was spread through the air – originating from the air conditioning unit in a class restroom. Several other cases of norovirus being spread this way have been reported. However, air conditioners can also help stop the spread of airborne viruses. Research shows AC units that are regularly maintained and sanitised can reduce circulating levels of common viruses, including COVID. Another reason AC may increase your risk of catching an infection is due to the way air conditioners control humidity levels. This makes the inside air drier than outside air. Spending extended periods of time in low-humidity environments can dry out the mucus membranes in your nose and throat. This can affect how well they prevent bacteria and fungi from getting in your body – and can leave you more vulnerable to developing a deep-tissue infection of the sinuses. Air conditioners are designed to filter air contaminants, fungal spores, bacteria and viruses, preventing them from entering the air we breathe indoors. But this protective shield can be compromised if a system's filter is old or dirty, or if the system isn't cleaned. Ensuring good AC maintenance is essential in preventing air-conditioner-acquired infections. Primrose Freestone is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
The 7 dietitian-backed foods to eat for a balanced breakfast
Your mornings are busy enough without having to spend the time to decide what to make – and then having to actually make – a healthy, well-balanced breakfast. That's further complicated by the fact "healthy" can mean different things to different people. Some may be trying to lose weight. Some may be trying to gain weight. Some may be trying to increase the amount of nutritious food they eat in a day. Some may just need to grab anything they can get their hands on to make sure there's something in their stomach before running out the door. Marisa Moore, MBA, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian nutritionist and author of "The Plant Love Kitchen," breaks down everything you need to know about best breakfast nutrition practices. Looking for a healthy breakfast? Here's what to eat in the morning for a nutritious meal. How many calories should I eat for breakfast? The amount of calories someone should eat in a given meal can depend on several factors, including age, sex, height, weight, physical activity, pregnancy or lactation status and individual goals. For example, the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that a moderately active (defined as the equivalent to walking between 1.5 and 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour) 35-year-old man should be consuming about 2,600 calories a day, while a moderately active 35-year old woman needs about 2,000. Women generally need fewer calories than men, and older adults generally need fewer calories than younger ones. These recommendations can also vary depending on whether a person is trying to lose, maintain or gain weight, too. Rather than focusing on how many calories someone should be eating at breakfast, nutrition experts suggest paying more attention to the variety of macronutrients you're serving yourself. "Start the day with a protein- and carbohydrate-rich meal for sustained energy until lunch time," Moore suggests. Adding healthy fats, such as chia seeds, walnuts, olive oil, avocado or full-fat yogurt to the equation is helpful. What is meal sequencing? Health experts explain whether the rising diet trend works. What should I eat for breakfast? Your morning menu doesn't have to be boring. These balanced breakfast options will give you the energy you need to get through the day. Vegetable-packed omelet with a side of fruit (pick your favorites!) Protein-rich Greek yogurt with walnuts and berries (a quick, no-cook option that Moore says will keep you full "for hours"). Oatmeal with a creamy nut or seed butter with a handful of berries (this one's vegan, if that's something you're looking for in a recipe). Leftover beans and rice or roasted broccoli with scrambled eggs or tofu ("Remember that breakfast can be anything you want it to be," Moore says). The U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate (which in 2011 replaced the food pyramid you might be more familiar with) also offers dozens of healthy breakfast recipes, including apple oatmeal muffins, black bean burritos and Spanish omelets. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to eat for breakfast, according to a dietitian
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Vegas teachers are getting lapband surgery paid for if they don't put weight back on
Las Vegas teachers can undergo weight loss surgery completely covered — as long as they keep the weight off. Over 50 teachers in the Clark County School District, which includes Las Vegas, have gotten bariatric surgery through their health insurance plan, which will reimburse the $5,000 cost of the surgery if they can keep the weight off for five years, Fox 5 Vegas reported. Educators facing health challenges due to morbid obesity can opt for the surgery, also known as lapband surgery. Each year they keep the weight off, they will receive $1,000 back from their insurer, Teachers Health Trust. 'This used to be tight on me. These are 48'. I used to wear 50' and now I'm down to a 36,' special education teacher and coach Dean Goldhammer said. Goldhammer had bariatric surgery 18 months ago and said it completely changed his life. 'Going from 319 pounds to today 205 pounds, and hopefully 175 pounds by next year… It's the best thing I did in my life,' he said. 'I play pickleball. Tennis every single day, I go to the gym... Before, when I was heavy, I kind of like I hid out in my own house by myself.' While Goldhammer is a lifelong tennis player, he started gaining weight after an ankle surgery. 'I've had a hip replacement because of my weight… they told me if I don't lose weight, my knees were going to have to be replaced and my other hip,' he said. Goldhammer knew he had to take action after receiving a grave warning from his doctor. 'My doctor, I think I had him on his last day of his career, he was 80 years old. He says, 'You're younger than I am by 20 years, but your insides are a lot older than me because of the weight you're carrying. You're not going to be here very long.' And that's when I said, 'I got to do something,'' Goldhammer said. Teachers Health Trust says the program, now in its second year, is unique to Clark County, but has already changed countless lives. 'I've received emails and phone calls from members saying, 'Hey, it's really impacted not just myself, but my family. I'm able to do activities with my kids and with my grandkids that I wasn't able to do before the surgery,'' the company's Chief Operating Officer, Rory Wright, said.
