What’s Causing Your Cough?
One of the well-known symptoms of viruses and respiratory infections is coughing. Add that to the fact that scientists think most viruses are spread by those without symptoms as well as those with. All this makes for a stressful time in itself, but doubly so, if you happen to have a cough. It’s hard to tell whether your cough is harmless or a part of a larger problem, like a virus.
You can follow all the guidelines to stay safe, practice social distancing, and even wear a mask in public, but a simple cough can send your mind reeling. The truth is that your causes for coughing could be your air conditioning system. In this article, experts offer some insight into the common causes of coughs and what you can do to limit its impact on your home and health.
Common Causes of Coughing
There are many different coughing causes. While this article is not intended to be medical advice, it can help you to determine the likely culprits for your cough. When it comes to your AC system, there may be a few different factors. The major ones are cold and dry air.
Since most AC systems simultaneously remove humidity and cool the air, they can be the cause of a persistent, dry cough. This tends to happen when some people are exposed to cold air, and it’s often called cough-variant asthma. Even if you don’t have other forms of asthma or any other symptoms, you may be suffering from cough-variant asthma.
If your cough is leading to congestion and less throat irritation, it could be excess humidity. Your air conditioning creates a delicate balance in your home, and any changes in that environment can easily affect your health.
The Best Home Temperature for Avoiding Coughs
While there is no perfect temperature to set your thermostat to in order to get rid of your cold air cough, increasing the temperature a few degrees can help. The more the air conditioner runs, the more moisture is removed from the air, which can exacerbate the throat and lungs. So if you can turn up the temperature to where you’re still comfortable, but the AC is running less, it may help your cough.
In many cases, this is somewhere in the 72-75 degree area. Another remedy is moving to another room where the AC is not blowing directly on your or near you. Even closing the vents in the room you’re in can help a little bit.
Keep in mind that a cough can also be caused by pollen, mold, or dust in your AC system. Regular AC maintenance and filter changes can help prevent these kinds of contaminants from entering your home and your lungs. Clean filters, clean ducts, and a fully-functioning AC system make for clean air and peace of mind.
Humidifiers Work Wonders
If you’re not familiar, a humidifier is an appliance that disperses water into the air as a mist. They are readily available online or at many different home appliance stores. With a humidifier, you can keep your thermostat at a comfortable temperature while still keeping the air in your room from drying out. This often helps coughs caused by cold, dry air.
These are especially good to run at night because many people develop coughs as the temperature drops after the sun goes down. A humidifier in the room where you sleep can help ensure you get a good night’s sleep, uninterrupted by non-viral coughs.
Of course, if you need help finding the right unit for your home, it’s always important to work with a reputable air conditioning company. They can inspect your system and find the areas that may be affecting your health.
About Elite Electric & Air
Elite Electric & Air has been serving Port St. Lucie, Florida, proudly for 30 years. Their pricing is upfront and transparent, their technicians professional and courteous, and their workmanship is top-notch. They also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, 24/7 live-answer service, along with UV Air Sanitizer solutions for your home.
