Centralized AC Worsening My Asthma: How Can I Address This with Management?

Hi, my office has centralized AC, and I am an asthma patient. How can I get rid of this problem? Please suggest alternative solutions. Can I discuss this with the management? Waiting for the reply.

Firstly, try to find a seat where the A/C airflow is minimal or non-existent.
Cover your ears with cotton to prevent the cold air from passing through and have warm water for drinking.
Before discussing the issue with management, try to discuss the problem with your immediate boss and seek his suggestions or help. Then, you could proceed further.

Dear,

Your problem is genuine, but have you noticed that almost all offices have centralized ACs? So, the best thing to do is to first ask your doctor what you should be doing, what care you should be taking, etc., in case you HAVE TO be in that environment. Then you can always ask your boss for a 'less cold' place to sit.

Wishing you good health.

Regards,
Shikha

Hi Ambika,

Your problem is quite genuine, and who else can understand its severity than someone who is a fellow sufferer! I too am suffering from the same problem and had to take 4 days off from the office because I had a completely congested chest. I have allergic asthma, and the AC environment does not suit me at all. I have requested my boss to assign me a chamber where the AC is not very cold. That seems to be the only way out as most offices have centralized AC these days.

Apart from that, do try to carry a shawl or stole and keep your ears protected from direct contact with cold air. All the best and take care.

Hi Ambika,

I'm facing the same situation in my office - the AC temperature is always set at 17 degrees. My doctor suggested that I try to avoid the AC or adjust its speed. Every time, I suffer from a cold and my health deteriorates slowly. Unfortunately, I have not found any solution yet. There should be some rules regarding these situations.

Thanks & regards,
Sushila Yadav

Dear all,

There is a solution, albeit not 100%, but you can reduce this problem by 50% through technical means and 50% through your and management support.

1) If you find a suitable person who knows about the centralized air conditioning, you can locate the place where the air conditioning blows at low pressure. Additionally, there is a possibility of a single duct being blocked where you want to reduce the cooling. Also, temperature settings can be monitored, meaning calibrated for the right temperature suitable for health.

2) If management supports, you can locate the place where the air conditioning is not covered.

Regards,
Raghavendra

Hi Ambika,

One of my ex-colleagues had this issue. The suggestion given was: WEAR A SWEATER. You see, people feeling cold can wear extra clothes, but what about people who feel hot? They can't undress :-)

I hope you take this in a lighter sense. This was the suggestion given to a previous colleague at the company where I worked. He accepted it slowly, and after a few days, he started to feel better and understand why one person should not make everyone else feel uncomfortable.

Dear Sushila,

Same as above - try using a sweater. Well, when we had this issue, our company mentioned that the a/c should be set only at 23 or 24, nothing below that.

"Hi Ambika; I'm facing the same situation. In my office, the AC temperature is always set to 17. My doctor suggests trying to avoid the AC or controlling its speed. Every time, I suffer from a cold and gradually deteriorate my health. I have not found any solution yet. There should be some rules regarding these situations.

Thanks & regards,
Sushila Yadav"

What Asha said can be welcomed. Apart from that, do try to cover your nose and ear using a mask. This can give you an immediate effect.

Hello,

I agree with Mr. Raghu's and Mr. Mahesh's reply, but I do not agree with Mr. Mathew (wearing a sweater in the summer is not sensible). Implementing a uniform rule seems quite beneficial.

Thanks,
Sushila

I don't know who Mr. Mathew is here.

Well, if it makes sense not to wear a sweater, it also makes sense to have the A/C set at something comfortable for everyone. A few people will have to adjust by wearing thick clothes or a sweater. :icon1:

Dear Ambika,

I completely agree with the suggestion of Asha Mathew. I am also an asthma patient. I do wear a sweater during the rainy and winter seasons, and I always cover my ears with cotton. It's really good and helpful to implement the above.

Regards,
Narendra

Same is the case with me, dear. I am suffering from sinus and can't sit in AC, but can't do anything. The best thing would be to carry a light jacket and a stole to cover your ears. It will surely help as it has helped me. All the best!

One more solution:
Paste or place the papers over the AC vent at the top of your seat (in case of centralized AC).
This way, the chilled air will not directly hit you.
Regards,
Rahul

Note: Please seek assistance from the office boy to help place the papers.

The conclusion of the whole discussion is: "Try to cover yourself with a jacket, try to cover the hole with plastic paper." Okay, best of luck.

Date: 06.10.09

Dear Ambika,

I suggest that you discuss the matter with your senior management, and I hope they will definitely hear you out and resolve the issue promptly.

Regards,
Shikha Mittal :)
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If an employee has any problem performing their duties, they should first discuss everything with their boss. Employers pay for your services and expect the best from you. If they feel that you are unable to perform well due to any reason, they will take it more seriously than anyone else.

Dear Ambika/Asha,

I understand the air-conditioned environment is posing a health problem to you. Having encountered a similar experience with my loved ones, I would like to share my experience, which may be useful to you.

The real cause of the severity of asthma cannot be attributed to the A/C environment alone; there can be factors such as stress, dust, and physical weakness, etc., which vary from case to case.

You can also discuss this with your physician.

In fact, an A/C environment ensures a dust-free atmosphere, which may be beneficial to some asthmatic patients.

Meanwhile, air conditioning has become common nowadays; you cannot avoid it now. Instead, try to find methods to overcome it. You can talk to your management to ensure a comfortable working atmosphere. In ordinary tropical conditions, a room temperature between 22-25 degrees would be ideal, where the moisture will be lower, and sweating will also be reduced.

You may be suffering due to a lower temperature set by your organization because we, Indians, generally tend to set A/C temperatures below 20 degrees.

Furthermore, it is not my intention to disagree with you, nor do I possess any qualifications in medical or biological sciences; I am simply sharing an experience.

Regards,

Balamurugan Sivaprakasam

Head of HR

ICIL-MM Nagar

Hi Ambika,

Nobody has the right to force you to live in unhealthy conditions while working for the office. Frankly discuss with the management in a requestive tone, giving relevant solutions according to your office structure, such as having a partitioned cabin, etc. If the problem is not resolved, do write again.

Satyavan

Hey Ambica,

Loads of suggestions here... of course, I am sure you must have taken some decision. Do let us know what you have finally done.

Regards,
Ukmitra

Could anyone suggest how to take this issue to the boss and ask him to consider the problem? I mean a better way to convince him by explaining the problem (yes, I accept more clothes, sweaters... all are okay but how to approach the boss).

Hello Ash Methew, you are right.

I have two types of woollen clothes; one is a light warmer and the other is pure wool, i.e., a Jacket. Apart from that, I have a Muffler, which I use when I feel colder.

If I sit in my chamber, I use the light warmer one. However, when I enter the System Room, I use a woollen Jacket with the Muffler, and it really helps.

Nowadays, the centralized AC concept has emerged where system rooms have colder pockets, and you should enter with your arrangements as the system room temperature is fixed by the vendor. For example, in the DATA CENTRE part, it has to be as low as possible, as recommended by the vendor. Moreover, online maintenance is also required when the machine is running.

Whatever it may be, doctors suggest that joint pains, cough, and cold are normal phenomena due to AC. It may lead to other complications in the future. Therefore, prevention is better than cure. 😊

Shrawan Kumar

Check your AC unit's condition. If it's dirty and clogged with dust, it has nothing to do with it being centralized. And yes, wear proper clothes.

Asthma patients need not worry about centralized AC as it removes dust and all pollen grains present in the air, thus reducing the chance of getting asthmatic attacks. You can request the admin to clean filters periodically, and all your machines and your lungs will be dust-free. I am Dr. with 30 years of working experience; trust me, your fear is cold air, which might induce an attack. It is not so in AC. In cold weather, water molecules and pollen grains induce inflammatory reactions, not in AC. So please remove the fear from your mind.

Dr. Mahesh Kawle :)

Dear Ambika,
Try to get rid off Asthama First.
I prefer the problem will still long last until your day of retirement if you do not come out of disease.
Prefer Medication & Yoga. That will Keep you healthy.
centralise AC is Problem That I can understand But the Air conditioner are Provided to keep a comfortable environment in the Office .
You can request to have temperatures around 26°C. But do not complaint your managment again & again or they my ask/force you to leave the Job on unhealthy Employee Basis.

Hi Ambika,

Most of the offices these days are equipped with centralized AC. Your problem is genuine. But all you can do in this case would be to have a chat with your immediate boss and probably change to a place where the cold is much less. Also, try putting some cotton in your ears while working and drink lots of warm water. This might also help.

As mentioned by members, AC in a centralized state is common in all office environments, and I face the same problem of being badly affected by persistent cold and cough because of the AC. I feel wearing a sweater or jacket to prevent direct exposure to cold air is better. I am actually deteriorating because of this AC problem. I am really glad to see that many other important real issues are being addressed here. Thanks to all the dear members.

Hi Ambika,

Most offices these days are equipped with centralized AC, and your problem is genuine. One thing you could do is have a chat with your immediate boss and possibly change your location to a spot where the cold is less intense. You can also try putting some cotton in your ears while working and drink plenty of warm water, as this might help.

Hi, I also have the same problem. What should I do? Stick a hard cardboard with cellotape to the part from where the blow is directly coming to me. And put cotton in both ears. This will definitely help. Try it out.

You should talk to your management about this. The centralized AC plays an important role in spreading viruses, so this can be your weak point. It also leads to a reduction in performance due to unfavorable conditions, which is explained in ergonomics. Just explain this to them, and you will excel in the organization.

Thanks & Regards,

PANKAJ MHATRE
HEAD HR
pankaj.ntorhr@gmail.com

Dear All,

I agree with all of your suggestions and would like to offer Ambika one more suggestion: she can discuss with her colleagues and management about switching off the air conditioning or setting it to a low setting in the morning and evening. This would help maintain cooler conditions during those times.

Take care,
Ambika

I am surprised, even I received doctor's suggestion. Thank you, sir. I have discussed with my boss - he suggested me to keep the temperature at 24 and every hour switch off the AC for ten minutes; this may help me further. Anyways, thank you once again, hope it will do.

Asthma patients need not be worried about centralized AC as it removes dust and all pollen grains present in the air. So, it reduces the chance of getting asthmatic attacks. You can request the admin to clean filters periodically, and all your machines and your lungs will be dust-free. I am a doctor with 30 years of working experience; trust me, your fear is cold air which might induce an attack. It is not so in a centralized AC; in cold weather, water molecules and pollen grains induce an inflammatory reaction and not in AC. So please remove the fear from your mind.

Dr. Mahesh Kawle :)

Dear Pankaj,

Try to do yoga and pranayama in the morning. You will definitely get rid of your problem. Yoga improves your immune system and can also help with your asthma.

Regards

I had a similar problem for the last 4 years. Last year, my friend suggested Triple Guard Echnicea, a natural herb to control asthma. I used the course twice within a gap of 2 months, and 90% of my asthma got cured.