Is the heating giving me a headache?
15 February 2024 • Article Summary
The Guardian
Winter woes like headaches and coughs might not be solely due to germs. Dry, heated indoor air can worsen symptoms. Irritations can be triggered by:
- Reduced air circulation to conserve heat and energy: Pollutants like dust and allergens get trapped, causing irritation.
- Increased CO2 (due to reduced ventilation): Can lead to headaches and fatigue.
- Dry air (due to increased air temperature): Dries out skin and mucus membranes, increasing susceptibility to illness and causing scratchy throat and coughing.
If basic tests like at-home Covid tests are negative, the author suggests spending time outdoors to see if symptoms improve or at least ventilate your home or workplace more often.
Combating dry air: Apart from regularly opening windows, drinking more water, moisturizing, and removing dust and clean regularly are recommended. Also, regular Maintainance of heating equipment and air purifiers.