Is it true that AC makes people easy Colds?

When in a cold room and air-conditioning is usually a person's frequent colds. Then is it true the news that AC can make a person more susceptible to colds?

Some people believe that the decrease in temperature that occur suddenly can affect a person's immune system, making people more susceptible to illnesses such as colds.

"Colds and other respiratory diseases are always associated with cold air. But the cold air is not the cause, but a virus," said Dr. Ujwala Kaza, an allergist immunologist from New York University Langone Medical Center, as quoted by the NYTimes, Thursday (28 / 7 / 2011).

Yet researchers from Cardiff University in Wales said there may be a contribution from the AC against respiratory tract infections. This is because the AC extract moisture from the air which can dry out the protective mucus that lines the nose, thus providing an opportunity for a virus or bacteria to multiply in the nose.

In addition to the AC are not cleaned regularly can also be a cause, because the AC will be a gathering place for microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses or fungi that can later be released into the air.

Studies conducted in 2004 of 920 women found that people who work in offices with central air conditioning has a higher level to not miss work due to illness and doctor visits to ENT (ear nose throat) are more frequent.

While the 1998 study conducted on 800 office workers also found more disease symptoms appear in workers who have offices air-conditioned compared with workers in naturally ventilated offices.

While cold symptoms appear such as runny nose and watery eyes are one of the body's response to cold air. This response is useful to help prevent dryness of the mouth and nose lining.