Can Office Air Conditioning Cause Headaches?
Prevent and Treat Sinus and Migraine Headaches Caused by HVAC units
Oct 12, 2009
Most office buildings have an integrated HVAC (heat, ventilation and air conditioning) unit which serves the entire building. Office air conditioning environments are typically set to 60 – 65°F (or 16 - 18°C). Since A/Cs suck moisture and dry the surrounding air, this temperature often causes people with sensitive sinuses to develop sinus headaches, dry eyes, itchy skin, migraine headaches, and dehydration.
The Australian Family Physician magazine estimates that "headache, rhinitis, conjunctival irritation, respiratory symptoms, skin rashes, fatigue and nausea are the most common symptoms attributed to ‘sick building syndrome’ (SBS). The factors thought to contribute to SBS include ... air conditioning. As our population is working longer hours and are under increasing stress, this may be a plausible explanation for chronic headache in some patients."
Identify Cause of Headache
The first step is to identify the source of the headache. While there may be many underlying factors, headaches usually start with one primary trigger. Some common office factors that cause headaches are:
- Eye strain from using the computer all day or the need for eye glasses
- Extreme temperature changes (going from a very hot outdoor sun into a chilly air conditioned office or vice versa)
- Diet and food allergies
- Workplace stress (causes stress or tension headaches)
- Alcohol and caffeine withdrawal (causes chronic headaches)
If none of the above seems applicable and the office environment is chilly, then there’s a good chance that office air conditioning and resultant dehydration is responsible for the daily headache.
Signs and Symptoms of Headaches Caused by Air Conditioning
Air conditioning-related headaches are easy to spot because they typically also display signs and symptoms of dehydration. They also typically start and build up gradually as a person is exposed to the artificially cooled air. Once the trigger has been set, the headache will start as soon as exposure to the cause starts. In some cases, they will become chronic, persistent and daily headaches because the exposure to the A/C happens on a regular basis and usually at the same time each day.
Here’s a basic checklist of symptoms that may indicate the headache is being caused by air conditioning:
- Dehydration – parched lips, dry eyes, itchy eyes, irritable skin
- Headache starts immediately after exposure to an A/C environment
- Head starts throbbing uncomfortably in front of an A/C air duct
- Headache occurs in other air conditioned places such as car or home
Combat Dehydration with Humidifiers and Moisturizers
The dryness and subsequent headache caused by an air conditioning unit can be combated with increasing the air’s moisture levels and hydrating the skin. You can:
- Reduce dehydration by humidifying and moisturizing. Use a humidifier in the workspace or simply place a bowl of uncovered water to lend humidity to the work area. Use a moisturizing lotion on the hands, face, lips and skin. Use eye drops or a natural saline solution to ease dry, itchy eyes.
- Drink plenty of water. Stay hydrated by choosing to drink plain or sparkling water over soda, alcoholic beverages and caffeinated drinks. Keep a refillable water bottle on the work desk to be reminded to take regular sips throughout the day.
Other Headache Remedies and Treatment
While it’s not possible to stop coming in to work because the A/C is causing headaches, there are many things you can do that will help reduce the effects of the cool air conditioned air and prevent headaches from occurring:
- Avoid extreme weather changes. Try regulating the temperature before shifting from one location to another. One way to do this it to acclimatize the body gradually to an A/C environment. Switch off the car A/C a few minutes before entering the warm outdoors. Or keep the car A/C turned on until moments before entering a building with central air conditioning.
- Avoid getting a direct blast from the HVAC air ducts or sitting in front of them with an exposed head (especially if bald). Use a hat to protect from the A/C blast directly on the head. Consider having your seat or cubicle changed to an area which doesn’t get a direct blast of cool air.
- If possible, talk to the building’s maintenance staff for optimal A/C temperature and see if it can be brought up by a few degrees. Consider putting together a medical report for the building manager combined with Internet research on the link between air conditioning and headaches. Or get in to work early, before the A/C is at full blast, so as to let the body cool gradually rather than suddenly.
- Take medication if the headaches don’t ease with the above methods.
- If possible, consider telecommuting or switching to working from home if the headaches reach chronic migraine level and make daily work life a struggle.
The key to reducing and eliminating air conditioning-related headaches and migraines is to identify the triggers, the places they are triggered at (home, office, car, etc) and then to take steps to either avoid those places, regulate their temperature or take defensive action against the cold blasts of air that cause daily head throbs, sinus headaches, and migraine headaches.
 |
 |
 |
 |
