"Ran the Air Conditioner All Day Because It Was Too Hot... Felt Like My Face Was Paralyzed": The Outcome for the Woman Who Rushed to the Hospital

Diagnosed with Hyperventilation Syndrome
Proper Ventilation and Indoor Temperature Control Essential

An incident occurred in China where a woman was rushed to the emergency room after spending all day with the windows closed and the air conditioner running.

According to local media reports, including state-run China Central Television (CCTV) on August 7, Ms. Yun, who lives in Heilongjiang, experienced pain after spending an extended period in an air-conditioned indoor environment and was admitted to the hospital.

Recently, Ms. Yun felt dizziness, nausea, and headaches. Despite taking painkillers, her condition did not improve. Eventually, the pain became so severe that she was unable to get out of bed, prompting her to seek medical attention. She recalled, "Even on the way to the hospital, I experienced convulsions. My hands and feet stiffened, and my entire face felt numb."

The attending specialist diagnosed her with hyperventilation syndrome caused by a lack of indoor oxygen. Ms. Yun's condition gradually improved after about two hours of oxygen therapy.

Experts warn that running an air conditioner for more than an hour in a sealed space can cause indoor carbon dioxide levels to exceed safe limits. When the indoor oxygen level drops, the body tries to compensate by breathing faster. During this process, the amount of carbon dioxide in the body can decrease rapidly, destabilizing the body's internal balance.

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Dr. Peng Ying, a specialist at Beijing Ditan Hospital, stressed the importance of running the air conditioner only for an appropriate amount of time, ensuring proper ventilation, blocking direct sunlight, maintaining adequate room temperature, and managing the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors. He said, "Set the air conditioner to 26 degrees Celsius and keep the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors within 5 to 8 degrees. Also, after using the air conditioner for 2 to 3 hours, be sure to open the windows for ventilation for 10 minutes."

In particular, when sleeping, it is recommended to use sleep mode and avoid direct airflow onto the body. Dr. Peng also said, "It is best to wear or cover yourself with light clothing that covers your shoulders, neck, or knees, and to drink plenty of warm water."

Meanwhile, China has been experiencing a heat wave centered on the Huabei, Huadong, and Northeast regions. According to Chinese meteorological authorities, recent daytime highs have reached 39 degrees Celsius in Zibo, Shandong Province, 38 degrees in Anshan, Liaoning Province, 37 degrees in Tianjin, 36 degrees in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and 35 degrees in Beijing. In some areas, temperatures have exceeded 45 to 50 degrees, and in response to this record-breaking heat, Chinese authorities have issued heatwave advisories and urged the public to avoid outdoor activities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.