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Author: Dr. Lee Seung Hwan, Tong-In Clinic
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Editor : Sia
Last night, I woke up from sleeping feeling hot.
I thought it was just me, but when I asked around, everyone had the same experience.
The temperature last night was a sweltering 30°C (86°F)! 😢
It's only June, but it seems like we're already experiencing sweltering night!!!
As climate change intensifies, South Korea is gradually shifting towards a subtropical climate.
It's hard to tell if we still have four distinct seasons anymore.
The weather patterns now alternate between dry and rainy seasons.
In this kind of weather with severe temperature fluctuations, it's easy to catch what we call Naeng-bang-byeong(냉방병, air conditioning sickness).
It refers to mild, cold-like symptoms associated with excessive use of air conditioning in summer. It's a term you'll often hear in Korea during the hot months.
Today, I'll explain the causes and prevention tips for "냉방병"!
Why do people get air conditioning sickness?
When summer arrives, and the weather gets hot, our bodies adapt to the external temperature. This process usually takes about 1-2 weeks.
However, unlike in the past, we no longer give our bodies time to adapt nowadays. Because we have air conditioning.
While air conditioning is great for escaping the heat, this cold air can also give us with air conditioning sickness.
In summer, our bodies regulate temperature by sweating to release waste and heat.
When our bodies can't adapt to the extreme temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, our immune system weakens, leading to symptoms of 냉방병.
📌Symptoms of air conditioning sickness
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Headache, chills, muscle pain
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Digestive issues, abdominal pain, diarrhea
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Sore throat, nasal congestion
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Changes in women's menstrual cycles
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Worsening joint pain
The symptoms of air conditioning sickness are similar to a cold.
We also need to be cautious about various illnesses during the summer.
Frequently turning on the air conditioner lowers indoor humidity.
This can dry out your throat and airways, making it easier to catch a cold or other breathing problems.
We should also be careful with cold foods. Consuming excessive amounts of cold water, cold noodles, or chilled fruits can weaken the digestive system, potentially leading to abdominal pain and diarrhea. 😢
How can we prevent it?
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Avoid setting the air conditioner too cold, and stay out of direct airflow from AC units or fans.
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Ventilate indoor spaces regularly, ideally once every hour.
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Wear a light cardigan indoors to help maintain your body temperature.
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Choose warm water instead of cold foods (like melons or watermelon) and chilled drinks (such as iced Americanos or ice cream).
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Boost circulation with a foot bath or a half-body bath.
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Keep your lower abdomen warm—this is especially important for women who experience severe menstrual cramps.
If you feel like you're coming down with air conditioning sickness, try incorporating these foods into your diet:
📌Light, soft, and warm foods
Chicken soup is a prime example. This warm soup, featuring chicken and vegetables, is ideal when you have a cold or feel under the weather.
In Korean cuisine, "juk" (죽, rice porridge) is a good option! It's a liquid-like food made by cooking rice with 6-7 times its volume in water until soft. You can add various toppings to make it more diverse.
Vegetable Juk, abalone Juk, and pumpkin Juk from Juk restaurants can also help with air conditioning sickness. (Avoid heavy seasonings)
Since air conditioning sickness often comes with digestive issues, it's best to avoid cold, greasy, and spicy foods.
Instead, opt for warm, light, and soft foods to ease your stomach and help you regain strength.
📌Fresh fruits
Fruits high in vitamin C are effective. However, it's recommended to let them sit at room temperature for a while rather than eating them straight from the refrigerator.
Tangerines, oranges, grapefruits, hallabong (한라봉, a type of citrus), and cheonhyehyang (천혜향, another citrus variety) are good choices. Korean summers offer a variety of delicious fruits.
Try eating small portions of fresh fruit slowly and frequently. 🤗
📌Warming teas
There are many types of tea in the world! However, avoid coffee and green tea, as they can cause the body to cool down.
Teas that warm the body include sujeonggwa (수정과, cinnamon punch), jujube tea, ginger tea, and pu-erh tea.
If you're experiencing diarrhea or enteritis (except in cases of heartburn), maesil (매실, japanese apricot) tea can also be effective.
📌If you're suffering from air conditioning sickness? Visit a nearby Korean medicine clinic!
For quick symptom relief, visiting a Korean medicine clinic can be helpful.
Acupuncture or moxibustion treatment (if you're afraid of needles) can help gradually improve symptoms of aircon disease.
Tteum(뜸, moxibustion) is a traditional Korean medicine treatment that involves burning mugwort or herbs on specific areas of the skin to treat illnesses.
Applying moxibustion to the abdomen raises internal body temperature, activates digestive functions, and boosts immunity, greatly helping in treating air conditioning sickness.
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Most importantly, instead of just worrying indoors about air conditioning sickness, try going outside for a gentle walk in the shade.
Walking slowly can help clear your mind and balance your body.
Why not try an outdoor walk right now? 👣
