Last summer I wrote this column and had a few requests from readers to run it again so they could send it to their friends or family.

I remember a few years back when I had an office in a very cold air-conditioned building, the temperature outside was in the very high thirties, the temperature inside hovered around 19C. This may seem like a dream to some people but in reality, it turned out to be a cold nightmare.
The problem was, although it seemed very nice at the time, there were many things lurking with-in the thirty-year-old duct work that would scare even the most seasoned mold and fungus experts. It is now clear to me why many people in that office were very sick.

Having previously lived in a colder climate than this, air-conditioning was a one or two-day event during the summer, not the four months we are used to here. I now realize the relationship between air conditioning systems and very serious respiratory problems. On average, there is a higher prevalence of a variety of health symptoms among occupants of air-conditioned buildings.

My personal dilemma with the air-conditioning mentioned above started when I began experiencing a dry, hoarse throat and over time it continued downward into my respiratory system. The sudden change in temperature from cold to extreme heat several times per day was almost the death of me. Soon I felt wheezy, something I never experienced before. I started having an unexplained cough, which could best be described as a very serious barking. This all started in early June and by late August my cough was worse than ever. It took me a while to figure it out, but I eventually did clue in it was the building's air-conditioning and I was not the only person experiencing it.

Most air conditioning systems will become contaminated with microbial agents that are transported into the occupied spaces. In a recent analysis of data from 80 office buildings about which there had been complaints, wet and dirty air conditioning symptoms were associated with increased lower respiratory symptoms such as wheeze and shortness in breath.

Although there is, nothing like cooling down on a sweltering day there are some things you should keep in mind. You may remember Legionnaires disease that was spread by a hotel air-conditioning system it sickened 221 people, and killed 34 at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia 29 years ago. It is bad enough that we have no control over our office air conditioning temperature but what makes it even worse is that, unlike at home, most of us can't even crack open a window at the office.

The air quality becomes tainted in buildings usually from undetected dangers-from the carbon monoxide and other contaminants sucked into a building when air-intake vents overhang exhaust-filled loading docks and parking garages and so on. The molds and bacteria funneled through muck-filled heating, ventilation, and cooling systems (HVACs). Even the smoke from those puffing away at entrances is sucked back into the building, chimney-style because of the suction from revolving doors.

What happens when you breathe in enough of these pollutants? The answer is very clear and as I mentioned above, usually the mold spores are inhaled and land on the delicate mucous membranes of the airways and lungs, causing chronic inflammation and eventually leading to some very serious problems.
The air-conditioning in your car is probably even worse so try to use it only to cool the car down for a few minutes. Use as much fresh air as possible and drink lots of fresh water. This is likely to decrease your susceptibility to these problems.

I eventually was able to get a handle on my particular air-conditioning related illness with some good selected homeopathic remedies. There most likely are homeopathic remedies that can help you for symptoms caused by poor air quality but the ultimate would be to avoid the problem in the first place, enjoy the heat and open the window.