Headache and sore throat... I thought it was a cold, but is it because of 'this'?

Cooling sickness. The term used to describe various physical discomfort symptoms that occur during hot summer days when air conditioning is used for long periods in enclosed indoor spaces without ventilation. Symptoms may resemble a mild cold, such as body aches, fatigue, runny nose, and nasal congestion, or gastrointestinal issues like indigestion or diarrhea. Many people also report dryness and stinging in the eyes, nose, and throat. Proper ventilation and appropriate air conditioner temperature control are priorities, but once discomfort symptoms appear, they must be addressed. Therefore, today we will explore medications and foods that help manage various symptoms of cooling sickness.

For mild body aches, runny nose, and nasal congestion, take cold medicine along with fatigue recovery supplements.

If you experience mild body aches accompanied by general weakness, along with cold-like symptoms such as headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, and sore throat, you can use a comprehensive cold medicine to alleviate the symptoms. Comprehensive cold medicines contain antipyretic and analgesic agents to reduce fever and body aches, as well as medications for runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, and phlegm. Air conditioning cools the air but also makes it dry. Dry air irritates the respiratory mucous membranes, causing runny nose, nasal congestion, and sore throat. Continuous cooling can impair blood circulation, leading to muscle stiffness, shoulder pain, headaches, or body aches.

In such cases, you can first use cold medicine to alleviate symptoms. If there is no cough or phlegm, taking a cold remedy for the nose is also possible. However, if even after taking medication, persistent fatigue remains and symptoms recur daily, it is advisable to take vitamin & mineral supplements or fatigue recovery agents. When using air conditioning, a large temperature difference between indoor and outdoor environments causes the body to consume a lot of energy trying to adapt to sudden temperature changes, leading to severe fatigue. Additionally, dry air can cause inflammation of the respiratory mucous membranes, weaken the immune system, and increase vulnerability to infections. At such times, you can use vitamin & mineral supplements containing vitamin B complex, amino acids that help produce mucous membranes and immune cells, and minerals like zinc, which promote energy production and boost metabolism. These ingredients help accelerate energy metabolism, enhance the body's resilience, alleviate general weakness caused by cooling sickness, and improve cold-like symptoms.

Changing menstrual cycles every summer can be helped with stress management and blood nutrient supplements.

Women are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses than men. This is because their thermoregulation ability is weaker than that of men, leading to instability in the autonomic nervous system during the process of adapting to indoor and outdoor temperatures caused by air conditioning, which easily disrupts bodily balance. Additionally, due to their thinner skin compared to men, women react more sensitively to changes in external temperature. For these reasons, women report a wider range of symptoms related to heat-related illnesses. There are also issues specific to women. One of these is the irregularity of the menstrual cycle. As the autonomic nervous system becomes unstable, hormone secretion changes, and physiological stress during temperature adaptation leads to fatigue, further worsening menstrual irregularity.

To address women's complex cold-related illnesses, it is advisable to carry a thin cardigan that can easily regulate body temperature in any place and at any time under excessive air conditioning conditions. Stress management also helps. Severe mental stress can overlap with physical stress, leading to hormonal changes that may cause irregular menstrual cycles or more severe menstrual pain. In such cases, stress management supplements like theanine or Rhodiola rosea extract can be helpful. If irregular menstrual cycles have worsened menstrual pain, it is also recommended to take blood-nourishing supplements containing iron, angelica root, cnidium, and peony, which help promote blood production and circulation to alleviate menstrual pain, along with pain relievers. Blood-nourishing supplements are usually available in more varieties at pharmacies than online, so if you suffer every summer from irregular cycles or menstrual pain, consulting a nearby pharmacy is advised.

If your throat frequently stings due to dry air, recommend hydration and bronchial health drinks instead of painkillers.

Air conditioners cool the air while also removing humidity, making the indoor air dry. As a result, the mucous membranes in the throat become dry and may react more sensitively to external stimuli, causing a sore throat. In such cases, it is more effective to hydrate sufficiently and use liquid-based foods that help maintain bronchial health rather than taking painkillers. Drinking plenty of water or bronchial health-promoting liquid teas keeps the mucous membranes moist, reducing sensitivity to stimuli and helping to alleviate mild inflammation. It is best to include various bronchial health foods such as pear, balloon flower root, quince, honey, three-leaved caper, loquat, and sponge gourd, but simply using pear or balloon flower root alone is also fine.

To relieve summer heat, drinking iced American coffee should be reduced when the throat feels sore. This is because the diuretic effect of caffeine in coffee increases fluid loss in the body, making already dry mucous membranes even drier. Although the coolness of iced American coffee may temporarily make the throat feel moist and comfortable, in reality, it can lead to further dehydration and worsen inflammation. When throat pain and inflammation are severe, anti-inflammatory painkillers should be taken. Especially if bronchial dryness has caused pharyngitis or tonsillitis, simple hydration or liquid remedies for bronchial health are not sufficient. It is recommended to first treat with medication to aid recovery or prevent recurrence, and to use fluids or bronchial health liquid remedies as part of lifestyle measures.

Air conditioning in summer provides coolness, but excessive use can cause unintended health problems. Proper use of air conditioning, along with appropriate medication and food intake, can help manage symptoms and contribute to a lively summer.