How to use an air conditioner for good health

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phong and Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh offer their advice to VnExpress readers below.

- When I lie in the air conditioner, I often have dry skin and a sore throat. Which one should I choose? (Phuong Thao, 35 years old, Hanoi)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

We should choose an air conditioner with a humidity balance feature and an inverter. With this function, we do not need to set the temperature too low to maintain comfort because the humidity is always at a balance between 55 and 65%.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh (right) and doctor Nguyen Hoang Phong (left) at the VnExpress newsroom. Photo: Huu Khoa.

- Doctor, what is the current status of respiratory disease? What are the health effects of respiratory infections? (Pham Hoang Thinh, 27 years old, Ben Nghe ward, HCMC)

- Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phong:

In Ho Chi Minh City, pollution increases, and respiratory diseases are also growing, especially in young children, due to their weak immune systems. In the world and Vietnam, up to 70–80% of children have respiratory diseases such as upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, etc.

As for the Respiratory Department of Children's Hospital 2, there are winter patients and day inpatients at the department, up to 300-400 pediatric patients. For example, the rate of serious diseases is also increasing. For example, about 40% of cases are pneumonia, bronchiolitis, asthma, etc.

When there is inflammation of the respiratory tract, the patient will have the following symptoms: cough, sneeze, runny nose,... More severe fever, difficulty breathing. If not treated promptly, it can be life-threatening. The overall effect is that children eat poorly, and they can be physically exhausted in the long run.

- Babies under one-year-old wheeze every time they lie on the air conditioner. What should I do to improve this situation? (Thu, 30 years old)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

It would help if you used an inverter air conditioner with a humidity balance feature. The machine should be placed so that the wind does not blow directly on the person regarding the position. What should adjust the temperature to 26-28 degrees Celsius for children.

- Is the air conditioner not cleaned harmful to your health? My house often forgets the periodic cleaning schedule, sometimes more than a year without cleaning the air conditioner. (Huong, 27 years old, HCMC)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

The air conditioner's inside will often cause mold and bacteria accumulation when used for a long time. Therefore, we should clean the air conditioner regularly, at least once every six months. At the same time, you should use models with anti-mold features and regularly use this feature during use.

- What type of air conditioner on the market is good for health and has antibacterial properties? (Chung, 34 years old)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

We should choose an air conditioner with health protection features such as:

- Moisture balance: To prevent respiratory diseases and mold and protect the skin.

- Air purification: such as Streamer technology and Enzyme Blue filter, which help to filter fine dust, deodorize, and kill bacteria.

- Adjust the temperature accurately to 0.5 degrees to avoid the phenomenon of too cold or too hot affecting health.

- The Coanda feature avoids wind blowing directly on people.

- In addition, you can choose an inverter air conditioner to help maintain a stable temperature and save electricity for your family to achieve optimal efficiency.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh. Photo: Huu Khoa.

- I do not know the parameters of the air conditioner to choose the most suitable type for the living room and bedroom space. Thanks to Mr. Quoc Anh for advising me on the parameters that consumers need to know and understand thoroughly to buy the right product that best suits their needs and brings comfort to their living space. (Minh Thu, 38 years old, HCMC)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

First, we can choose the appropriate capacity for each room. We usually choose between 9 and 12 m2 per HP for a residential space, with the condition that it is not exposed to direct sunlight, so the glass area is not too much. At the same time, choose a machine with an inverter feature to maintain a comfortable temperature as required.

In addition, if the family has children or the elderly, you can equip the air conditioner in the bedroom with healthy features such as humidity balance (Hybrid Cooling), air purification, and non-blowing airflow. Then, adjust the temperature to 0.5 degrees Celsius and apply it directly to the person.

Please consult a doctor or expert on adjusting the air conditioner because my bedroom is relatively small. The air conditioner is mounted at the head of the bed, so if a 1-year-old baby is lying down, his head will sweat if the temperature is too high, and if left too cool, he will sweat. cough? (Nguyen Minh Man, 35 years old, Da Nang)

- Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phong:

Children, especially those aged one year and older, should maintain the room temperature at 26-27 degrees Celsius, which will be safe for the children's respiratory tract because the child's respiratory system is susceptible. In addition, parents should provide a room thermometer to ensure the appropriate temperature is maintained.

When using the air conditioner, only use it for 2-3 hours, stop for about 30 minutes, and turn it back on. To ventilate the room, open the window to let the air circulate to avoid bacteria multiplying in the closed room. You need to clean periodically and regularly to prevent bacteria and mold.

Teach children the habit of drinking plenty of water to avoid dry mucous membranes and reduce the risk of respiratory infections. Also, try to avoid letting the wind blow directly on the young person.

When children come in from the outside, they should have time to acclimate for about 5 minutes before turning on the air conditioner, avoiding the temperature difference that makes children susceptible to illness. Then, when leaving the air-conditioned room, turn it off for about 20–30 minutes before taking the child out.

It is possible to use air conditioning devices with additional features like humidity balance, air filtration, etc., to increase the air quality in the room and reduce the risk of respiratory diseases in children.

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phong. Photo: Huu Khoa.

- Doctor, is there any way to fix my dry nose? (Le Huong Lan, 33 years old, Chi Linh Hai Duong)

- Dr Nguyen Hoang Phong:

If you let the air conditioner temperature drop, it will lead to dry respiratory mucosa, quickly leading to chronic respiratory infections (e.g., allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis...).

You should drink more water to replace electrolytes combined with saline nasal spray to overcome this.

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

In addition, you can refer to several ways to increase the humidity in the room, such as: hanging a damp towel or a bowl of water, using a humidifier; currently, some air purifiers have a humidifying function to help both clean the air in the room and compensate for moisture.

If you have to invest in a new room, you should choose an air conditioner to balance humidity, purify the air, and provide comfortable airflow.

- I want to invest in a good air conditioner for my home. In addition to product quality, I also care about customer service to feel more secure in every maintenance and repair. Thanks for the expert advice so that I can choose a good product and for the thoughtful after-sales. (Ngoc Thi, 30 years old, Hanoi)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

Currently, Daikin Vietnam has cleaning, maintenance, and repair services available through the application, supporting customers quickly, conveniently, and proactively.

You can download the Daikin Vietnam application via Google Play (Android) or App Store (IOS). These technicians have been trained and tested to Daikin standards. You can proactively schedule appointments for repair or maintenance with service packages such as standard maintenance, bio-antibacterial, anti-bacterial, mold, grease cleaning, or comprehensive maintenance.

- Is it not suitable for children to use air conditioners a lot? Is that true, doctor? And how to still use the air conditioner and bring optimal comfort while also being suitable for health, including children's health? (Tuan Nguyen, 32 years old, District 7)

- Dr Nguyen Hoang Phong:

For children and adults, using the air conditioner continuously for 24 hours is not suitable for their health.

If using an air conditioner, parents should use the air conditioner properly. Children, especially those aged one year and older, should maintain the room temperature at 26-27 degrees Celsius, which will be safe for the children's respiratory tract because the child's respiratory system is susceptible. In addition, parents should provide a room thermometer to ensure the proper temperature is maintained.

In addition, there are notes mentioned above, such as encouraging children to drink a lot of water, keeping the room well ventilated, using the air conditioner for 2-3 hours and then pausing for 30 minutes, periodically cleaning equipment,...

- I sleep with the air conditioner through the night and wake up with a runny nose. Why and how to fix it? (Sister Seven, 52 years old)

- Dr Nguyen Hoang Phong:

When sleeping with air conditioning all night for a long time, the respiratory tract lining is prone to dryness, leading to chronic inflammation. This leads to a dry throat, a dry nose, a sore throat, or worse, sneezing and a runny nose. Therefore, you need to replenish the amount of water during the day, eat many fruits and green vegetables, etc., to ensure enough electrolytes for the body, combined with cleaning the nose with physiological saline.

- I know many people have respiratory infections due to improper air conditioners because they are less concerned with wind direction and indoor air pollution. My family has a small child. We installed the air conditioner a week ago, and he has a respiratory illness. But if you don't use the air conditioner, it will be hot, and the baby will have trouble sleeping. Please advise me, Dr.(Pham Ha Thanh, 27 years old, Kien Giang)

- Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phong:

Your baby has a respiratory disease. When having symptoms, you need to see a pediatrician for a timely diagnosis and treatment. In addition, give the child plenty of water to drink, and clean the nose with physiological saline (e.g., with a dropper solution or a nasal spray bottle). Finally, keep personal hygiene and take care of children at home.

Children can still use the air conditioner, but they need to maintain a room temperature of 26–27 degrees Celsius, a safe temperature for the child's respiratory tract. Also, try to avoid letting the wind blow directly on the young person. Instead, use the air conditioner every 2-3 hours and then temporarily turn it off, ventilating the room for air to circulate.

You can visit a specialist for more specific advice.

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

From the perspective of an air conditioning expert, Daikin also has models with air purification features such as Streamer and Enzyme Blue filters to help filter dust, deodorize, kill bacteria, etc. At the same time, you should clean it periodic machine. Daikin now has an application on mobile devices, allowing users to request maintenance for all models and brands proactively. In addition, you can equip an air purifier with moisture compensation and intensive cleaning for the room.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh. Photo: Huu Khoa.

- Experts share the process of cooling the hot air of the air conditioner to create a large amount of moisture and condensate in the room. If the machine does not have a moisture balance and air filter function, it will produce bacteria and mold. If so, when buying an air conditioner, only the type with moisture balance and air filter should be selected as the best option. Sleeping is difficult for my family because of the hot weather, and sleep is restless. Please allow the experts to respond. (Huy Manh, 50 years old, Ben Tre)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

When the air conditioner is in operation, the air will pass through the indoor unit, the temperature will drop, and the humidity in the room will condense on the indoor unit and flow out through the air conditioner drain line. As a result, the moisture in the space will drop.

Regarding the production of bacteria and mold, it is because the inside of the air conditioner has very high humidity that bacteria and mold are often produced inside the indoor unit when we turn off the machine, affecting our health the next time it is used. Therefore, the air conditioner needs to be cleaned regularly.

The market currently has many types of air conditioners equipped with inverters (saving electricity and maintaining a stable temperature), humidity balance, hybrid cooling, air purification with Streamer and Enzyme Blue functions, and comfortable airflow that does not blow directly on the body. You can choose the model that suits your needs.

- My family has a newborn baby and was advised to put the air conditioner at 24 degrees C, but the family disagreed and was forced to lie on the fan. I found it quite hot, but the baby sweated a lot lying on the fan. Please consult with a doctor for a newborn baby. Can it be air-conditioned? How to use it properly so that the baby can sleep well and avoid illness? (Le Hoang Anh, 40 years old, from Hai Phong)

- Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phong:

You can put your baby in an air-conditioner where the temperature is maintained at 24 degrees Celsius or more, which is safe for the respiratory tract in babies. If the temperature is too high, the infant may be at risk of sudden death because the child is susceptible to temperature, and the ability to regulate body temperature is not stable. If the baby sweats a lot, it is best to absorb the sweat and keep the skin dry because wet skin makes it difficult for the child to sleep and increases the risk of respiratory diseases.

- Researchers will create the most user-friendly air conditioner, cooling the living space and helping the spirit relax, being excited, good for health, and not emitting harmful substances to the body to limit the greenhouse effect. May I ask Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh if Daikin had any ideas or research on this? (Minh Hai, 33 years old, Tay Ninh)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

Daikin Corporation is an air conditioner manufacturer that produces air conditioners and refrigerants (refrigeration gas), so Daikin always aims for environmentally friendly technologies. Specifically, we have applied R32 refrigerant that does not cause ozone depletion and reduces greenhouse effects on Daikin's product lines. Step by step, we eliminate the influence of refrigerants on the environment.

- Please ask the doctor. Bacteria in the air conditioner can cause respiratory diseases. Are these bacteria dangerous to the baby? Should babies stay in air-conditioned rooms? Thank you. (Minh Du, 30 years old)

- Dr Nguyen Hoang Phong:

The bacteria in the air are capable of causing respiratory diseases such as sore throats, sinusitis, more severe bronchitis, pneumonia, or asthma. Children susceptible to the disease are children due to their weak immune systems and weak resistance.

Children's rooms, toys, children's items, etc., should be clean; bed sheets, blankets, etc., should be washed and cleaned regularly. If using air conditioners, it is necessary to clean the equipment periodically to avoid bacteria and mold growth. Keep the room well ventilated; open the windows often.

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phong. Photo: Huu Khoa.

- What are the power-saving modes on the air conditioner? (Nguyen Trang, 32 years old)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

You should not set the temperature too low or use the power-saving mode to save electricity. For example, Econo mode (limits current and maximum power consumption), uses the Sleep mode feature when going to sleep, helps to adjust the temperature, and avoids being too cold or too hot (when heating) at night, saving electricity and promoting good sleep.

- Can the doctor share everyday bad habits when using air conditioners that affect health? (Pham Hoang Thinh, 27 years old, Ben Nghe, HCMC)

- Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phong:

Common mistakes are:

- Using low-temperature air conditioners continuously for many days without adding enough water and fruits causes the body to lack water and electrolytes, leading to dry respiratory mucosa, which is a favorable condition for bacteria and viruses to grow, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases.

- Failure to periodically clean equipment often causes bacteria and mold to have a breeding environment.

- Let the wind blow directly and continuously on the body.

- Do not often open the window; if the room is closed, the air cannot circulate.

- How to use the air conditioner to avoid heat shock and illness in hot weather? (Nguyen Thi Thao, 30 years old, Gia Lai)

- Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phong:

To avoid heat shock, when coming back from the sun, you should have about 5 minutes to acclimate before entering the room to turn on the air conditioner. When going out of the air-conditioned room, turn off the air-conditioner for 30 minutes before stepping out.

In hot weather, you need to add enough water, fruits, green vegetables, etc., to increase water and electrolytes for the body. Also, use proper air conditioning, wear a mask, complete sun protection, etc.

- Do you have allergic rhinitis, or are you allergic to the air conditioner because of the cold? So the hot summer is indispensable, so how can I both use the air conditioner and adapt to my rhinitis? Need expert advice? Thank you! (Luong Trieu Vi, 33 years old, 147 Thanh Thuy, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City)

- Dr Nguyen Hoang Phong:

Allergic rhinitis is a sensitive reaction of the nasopharynx to temperature, environmental pollution, causing symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, etc.

- You can still use the air conditioner, but you should do it in the following ways:

- What should maintain the room temperature at 25 degrees or more.

- Air conditioners need to be cleaned regularly and periodically.

- Add enough water, fruits, green vegetables, etc., to enhance the body's resistance.

- Clean the nose with physiological saline regularly.

- If you have worse respiratory symptoms or affect your daily activities, you should see a specialist for advice and treatment.

- My room has direct sunlight. Is there anything to pay attention to when choosing an air conditioner? (Lam Nguyen, 25 years old)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

Firstly, you need to equip curtains to avoid direct sunlight from causing an increase in heat load in the room. Second, the machine capacity must be higher than usual. It is best to describe your room in detail so that the consultants can choose the suitable machine capacity.

- My grandmother is 77 years old. If I stay at home all day, how much air conditioning mode is suitable for my health? Should I turn on the air conditioner 24/24 when at home? (Vinh Anh, 28 years old, from Quan 4)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

You should set the temperature between 26 and 28 degrees Celsius. It would be best if you did not turn on the air conditioner 24 hours a day for homes with older adults. It should only be turned on when it is hot, like noon or night when sleeping. In the morning and afternoon (from 5-7 pm), we should open the door to let fresh air into the room, creating ventilation.

- Is the Daikin air conditioner good for the breathing of pregnant women and children? (Tran Thi Hoang Lan, 29 years old, 33 Nguyen Huu Tho, Tan Hung Ward, District 7)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

Air conditioners today bring comfort and help protect the health of users. E.g.:
- In addition to saving electricity, Daikin's inverter technology also helps maintain a comfortable room temperature.
- Coanda wind does not blow directly on the body, causing discomfort and quickly causing disease.
- The exclusive new technology Streamer and Enzyme Blue filters, in particular, help to filter out dirt and odors while optimally killing bacteria, bringing in the fresh air.
- Hybrid cooling technology helps maintain the optimal humidity level for the breathing of pregnant mothers and babies.

- To ensure the humidity balance, do you need to put more water in the room with air conditioning 24/24 to ensure the humidity balance? (Hoang Duy Dang, 55 years old, Dong Nai)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

This is very healthy because the amount of steam rising from the water bowl will compensate for the moisture lost during the cooling process. However, you should also pay attention to changing the water every day to avoid bacteria, larvae, and fungi.

- My grandchild has never had pneumonia. Will the air conditioner be affected? (La Thi Hong Lien, 38 years old)

- Dr Nguyen Hoang Phong:

Pneumonia is a severe disease of the lower respiratory tract common in children due to bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. At the Respiratory Department at Children's Hospital 2, 50–60% of children under three years old have pneumonia. The disease is easy to relapse, has a severe course, and has a high mortality rate.

For children with pneumonia, it is essential to pay attention to:

- Children's living environments should be kept clean, and they should clean their tools (toys, blankets, sheets, pillows, etc.) regularly and periodically. In addition, children's rooms need ventilation, so windows are often opened to increase air circulation.

- Diet full of groups of substances. You can see a dietician has a suitable menu. Drink enough water, eat lots of fruits and vegetables,...

- Clean the nose and throat regularly with physiological saline

- Fully vaccinated.

- When a child has respiratory symptoms such as cough, sneezing, runny nose, etc., it is necessary to take the child to a specialist doctor for early diagnosis and treatment to avoid prolonging the disease, causing the disease to progress rapidly severely.

- Children who have had pneumonia can still lie in air conditioners, but they need to be used properly. To ventilate the room, open the window to allow air to circulate and prevent bacteria from multiplying in the closed room; clean equipment regularly to avoid bacteria and mold.

Teach children the habit of drinking plenty of water to avoid dry mucous membranes and reduce the risk of respiratory infections. Also, try to avoid letting the wind blow directly on the young person.

When children come in from the outside, they should have time to acclimate for about 5 minutes before turning on the air conditioner, avoiding the temperature difference that makes children susceptible to illness. Then, when leaving the air-conditioned room, turn it off for about 20–30 minutes before taking the child out.

It is possible to use air conditioning devices with additional features like humidity balance, air filtration, etc., to increase the air quality in the room and reduce the risk of respiratory diseases in children.

- Does the air conditioner have a bactericidal function? Do I need to buy an additional air purifier? (Ngoc Anh, 25 years old, district 7)

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

Currently, on the market, many products integrate bactericidal technology, such as Streamer air filter technology and Enzyme Blue filter. Specifically, streamer technology will decompose bacteria, mold, and viruses attached to the filter in an advanced plasma discharge, which is 1,000 times more capable of oxidizing decomposition. And the Enzyme Blue filter is capable of removing many odors within an hour, especially the four agents that cause unpleasant odors in the home; it reduces the causes of 25 types of allergies such as pollen, dust, mites, dander, mold, fungi, etc. This filter is a replacement for all previous deodorant filters.

Doctor Nguyen Hoang Phong discussed with Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh. Photo: Huu Khoa.

- Please consult a doctor or expert on the criteria to consider when choosing an air conditioner to suit your needs. Is it good for your health? (Hoang Thuy, 35 years old, Hanoi)

- Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phong:

In general, to use the right air conditioner to avoid respiratory diseases, you need to note:

- Room temperature: It is necessary to use a room thermometer to monitor a stable temperature in the room space. Maintain a room temperature of 26–27 degrees Celsius, especially for children.

- Do not let the wind blow directly on your body.

- For children, only use the air conditioner for 2-3 hours, stop for about 30 minutes, and then turn it back on.

- When children come in from the outside, they should have time to acclimate for about 5 minutes before turning on the air conditioner, avoiding the temperature difference that makes children susceptible to illness. Then, when leaving the air-conditioned room, turn it off for about 20–30 minutes before taking the child out.

- Clean the air conditioner periodically and regularly to avoid bacteria and mold.

- To ventilate the room, open the window to let the air circulate to prevent bacteria from multiplying in the closed room.

- Avoid using low-temperature air conditioners for a long time, lasting many days, because it quickly makes the lining of the airways dry, leading to the risk of respiratory diseases such as sinusitis, pharyngitis, and bronchitis. Bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma...

- Adequate nutrition, drinking enough water, eating lots of fruits and vegetables,...

- When having symptoms of respiratory disease, it is necessary to consult a specialist for timely diagnosis and treatment.

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh:

In addition to the above notes, when choosing an air conditioner, we need to pay attention to the following features:

- Inverter function.

- Balance moisture.

- Purify the air.

- Airflow is evenly distributed and does not blow air directly on people.

- Accurate temperature adjustment to 0.5 degrees Celsius.

- Smart connection (can be controlled via smartphone).