Each few months, social media throws up a warning that feels dramatic however oddly convincing. This time, it got here from Dr Christabel Akinola, who cautioned drivers in opposition to conserving the air-recirculation button on for lengthy intervals—claiming that it may make you dangerously sleepy on the highway, even inside a few hours. Intrigued, we reached out to Dr Anika Parrikar, Affiliate Marketing consultant – Interventional Pulmonology and Lung Transplant, Aster Whitefield Hospital, to separate truth from worry.
What poor air flow truly does to your physique
The pulmonologist confirms that the dangers are actual — although barely totally different from what most individuals assume. In line with Dr Parrikar, the most important difficulty isn’t oxygen all of the sudden operating out — it’s stale air increase contained in the cabin. With home windows closed and the identical air circulating repeatedly, carbon dioxide (CO₂) slowly will increase with each exhaled breath. “Poor air flow could make an individual really feel mentally uninteresting, sleepy, and even dizzy,” she explains. Even a gentle rise in CO₂ — simply two to 3 instances above outside ranges — is sufficient to decrease mind exercise and cut back alertness.
The oxygen within the automobile doesn’t drop dramatically, however the effectiveness of oxygen reaching the mind decreases. This results in heaviness, slowed pondering, and drowsiness. Heat, stagnant air intensifies the fog, making it particularly harmful for drivers who depend on fast response time.
The oxygen within the automobile doesn’t drop dramatically, however the effectiveness of oxygen reaching the mind decreases
Does recirculation mode enhance CO₂? And may or not it’s harmful?
Sure — recirculation mode traps the identical air within the cabin. Contemporary air stops getting into, so CO₂ slowly creeps upward, particularly when multiple particular person is inside. “CO₂ ranges can rise sharply inside one to 2 hours,” Dr Parrikar notes, citing research.
When CO₂ rises, the mind interprets it as an oxygen scarcity. The end result: dizziness, sleepiness, complications, confusion, and slowed alertness.
These signs could not kill you instantly — trendy vehicles usually are not hermetic sufficient for CO₂ to achieve deadly ranges — however the hazard is oblique but extreme. Impaired alertness drastically will increase accident danger. “The actual risk is driver fatigue and psychological fogginess,” she explains.
In really lethal eventualities, carbon monoxide performs the villain — particularly if a automobile is parked in a closed storage or there’s an exhaust leak. Recirculation traps these fumes, turning the cabin poisonous.Story continues under this advert
When CO₂ ranges rise within the automobile, the mind interprets it as an oxygen scarcity resulting in dizziness, sleepiness, complications, confusion, and slowed alertness
How lengthy is it protected to maintain recirculation On?
Recirculation is supposed for brief bursts — largely to chill the automobile shortly. For lengthy drives, Dr Parrikar recommends switching to fresh-air mode each half-hour. With a number of passengers, swap much more often. In site visitors or polluted cities, alternating modes grow to be important to stop stale-air buildup.
Warning indicators the air in your automobile isn’t contemporary
In case you discover:
sudden sleepiness
frequent yawning
heaviness within the head
problem concentrating
dizziness
delicate nausea
slight breathlessness
…your automobile doubtless wants contemporary air immediately.
Ignoring these indicators can push the physique into excessive tiredness and slower judgment — a harmful mixture when driving.Story continues under this advert
The most secure technique to preserve air clear whereas driving
Dr Parrikar recommends a easy routine: alternate recirculation and fresh-air modes, crack home windows open for a couple of minutes each hour, and keep cabin filters commonly. “In case you start feeling sleepy, lightheaded, or foggy, ventilate the automobile instantly,” she says. Keep away from idling in closed areas and all the time keep conscious of how your physique feels throughout lengthy drives. What seems to be like a innocent button can quietly have an effect on your alertness, particularly on highways. This vacation season, understanding how automobile air flow works may genuinely save a life.
DISCLAIMER: This text is predicated on info from the general public area and/or the specialists we spoke to.
