Anyone else get sinus infections from air conditioning?

[RevCheesehead]

I was riding in someone else's car yesterday... and sure enough, the familiar tickle had me grabbing for the kleenex by the end of the day.

Am I the only one who has this happen?

[Nickster]

1. That's why you have to hit that recirculate button so the air from the

outside doesn't get in. I have terrible hay fever and I suffer if I try to circulate air from the outside.

[madrchsod]

2. yes, i`m really sensitive to air conditioning

i can tell immediately if the air conditioning isn`t working properly because my sinus swell up and i can`t breathe..

[RevCheesehead]

3. What about dirty filters?

I know in some newer model cars, they make a removable a/c filter. I don't know how much trouble it would be to get the filter changed... but it might be worth it.

But that still doesn't solve the problem when you're riding in someone else's car.

[mzteris]

4. You may have this:

Vasomotor Rhinitis

Vasomotor Rhinitis is chronic rhinitis that is characterised by intermittent (coming and going) episodes of sneezing, watery nasal drainage (rhinorrhea), and blood vessel congestion of the nasal mucus membranes. There appears to be a hypersensitive response to stimuli such as a dry atmosphere, air pollutants, spicy foods, alcohol, strong emotions, and some medications. Indeed any particulate matter in the air, including pollens, dust, mould, or animal dander can bother people with VMR, even though they are not actually allergic to these things.

People with VMR are unusually sensitive to irritation and will have significant nasal symptoms even when exposed to low concentrations of irritants. Thus, vasomotor rhinitis seems to be an exaggeration of the normal nasal response to irritation, occurring at levels of exposure, which doesn't bother most people

Triggers of Vasomotor Rhinitis

Many cases are associated with a specific agent or condition. Examples of such agents/conditions are:

• Changes in temperature or barometric pressure, turbulent air
• Perfumes, strong cooking odours, smoke
• Inorganic dust (which is separate from house dust mite), air pollution
• Spicy foods, alcohol
• Some medications, like some blood pressure tablets
• Sexual arousal
• Stress (emotional or physical).

For me - going from hot to cold - or cold to hot - like getting in the car and turning on the AC. Or getting out of a warm bed into a cold room.

When I tell people I'm "allergic to mornings AND housework" (mold/dust/particulates/fragrance from cleaning chemicals) - they think I'm joking!



One of the problems with VMR - is if you have mild allergies in addition to VMR, once your sinuses have been "triggered", your mild allergies can become a major irritant instead. And, once the sinuses become all clogged - it can quickly become a sinus "infection".

If you've been using a whole lot of antibiotics - stop. Your body may have become dependent on them. This happened to me as well a long time ago. It's a bit of a pain to go through, but once you do - you're "better".

So - go to the store and get a large bottle of powdered Vitamin C. Get you a whole lotta juice. Keep your glass full. Every time you finish one glass, fill it up and add a spoon of the Vit C. If your kidneys start hurting, alternate the Vit C/juice and a large glass of water.

Also take a good decongestant (and I personally like to add guafenasin - though I've been "told" it doesn't "work" for sinuses. :shrug: )

It'll take 2 or 3 days but you'll see an improvement and you'll have helped break your body's dependence on the antiobiotics

[RevCheesehead]

5. I have chronic rhinitis and allergies.

I just wondered if a car's a/c can be a trigger. Apparently, it can. x(

[Lavender Brown]

6. Yes

I'm positive that the AC is the reason I'm sick more often in the summer than the winter (also other environmental causes). I've had raging sinus and ear infections in the summer. Offices are the worst.