While AC is great at making us feel comfortable it’s also important for health, Elizabeth Tracey reports

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As the northern hemisphere enters full summer, many people shut their windows and turn on the air conditioning, or AC. William Checkley, a lung health expert at Johns Hopkins, says as with many things in life, it’s important to have balance in using the AC.

Checkley: It's highly prevalent in the US. About 70 to 80% of homes have an air conditioning system. It is very much needed especially in the summer, in certain geographical areas in the United States. It also plays a role at reducing humidity in the air which is also helpful for the body. In the homes excess humidity can lead to growth of dust mites, mold, it could also lead to other air allergens that are present in the environment. On the other hand too dry have an environment can also lead to problems.      :30

Checkley notes that many air conditioning systems provide a readout on humidity and it’s important to keep an eye on it, aiming for about 40-50% or so in order to retard growth of organisms but not too dry for your respiratory system. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.