Air conditioning wind, prostate health threat? ...You should avoid sitting down for a long time
Aug 21, 2025
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Lee Jang-hee, head of the urology department at Himchan General Hospital in Incheon, explained, `In summer, excessive sweating causes a lack of water in the body, which stimulates the urinary tract and prostate as urine is concentrated.' `Excessive exposure to cold drinks or air-conditioning winds causes pelvic muscles to contract and compress the urethra and prostate, which can lead to worsening of urination symptoms.'
◇Bacteria breeding, loss of moisture, air conditioning, and vulnerable prostate health in summer
The prostate is a reproductive organ that only exists in men, and plays an important role in producing part of the semen and regulating urination function. However, as you get older, you are more likely to be exposed to various diseases such as prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. In particular, summer heat can be a catalyst for deepening these prostate diseases. This is because environmental changes caused by heat and physiological reactions of the human body work in combination.
This is a different mechanism than the cold in winter constricts the prostate muscles and worsens symptoms.
First of all, the hot and humid environment in summer causes sweat and moisture around the skin and genital organs to promote bacterial reproduction. This can cause inflammation when bacteria reverse through the urethra or anus and reach the prostate. In particular, in the case of existing prostatitis patients, stress and irregular living due to heat reduce immunity, further deepening the inflammatory response and increasing the likelihood of recurrence. This is a factor that further maximizes pain and discomfort.
In addition, in summer, the body loses water due to the secretion of sweat. This causes dehydration and reduces the amount of urine, while also making the concentration of urine thick. The concentration of minerals such as salt, calcium, and uric acid in urine increases, increasing the likelihood of stones forming. This can cause prostate or urinary stones. In addition, concentrated urine stimulates the urinary tract mucosa, easily causing bacterial proliferation. The prostate is located surrounding the bladder and urethra, so it is highly likely that these stimuli will soon lead to prostatitis.
Excessive cooling in summer is also a threat to prostate health. Long-term exposure to cold air-conditioned winds constricts peripheral blood vessels and decreases blood circulation in the pelvic area. This may adversely affect prostate and lower urinary tract function.
In addition, as the sympathetic nervous system is activated to maintain body temperature, the smooth muscles located in the prostate and bladder neck contract. If you have prostate hypertrophy in the past, contracting to the muscles while the already enlarged prostate compresses the urethra can narrow the passage of urine, thinning the urine stem, and worsening urination symptoms such as residual urine and frequent urination.
◇If symptoms of frequent urination, night urination, and urgent urination are repeated, visit the hospital
The first rule to protect prostate health in the summer is to drink enough water. It is important to keep urine thin by drinking water frequently. However, it is recommended to prevent night urination by restricting water intake two hours before going to sleep. The habit of holding back urine can strain the bladder, so if you feel like urinating, you should immediately urinate to lower the pressure on the bladder. It is recommended to avoid beverages that promote diuretic effects such as coffee and soda as much as possible.
Proper cooling temperatures are also important. The indoor and outdoor temperature difference should be limited to within 5-6 degrees, and the air conditioner wind should not directly touch the lower body. When sitting for a long time, it is also helpful to get up every hour and stretch lightly to circulate pelvic blood flow. If necessary, a thermal sitting bath that soaks the lower body in warm water is effective in relieving symptoms.
In the summer when you sweat a lot, you should wear well-ventilated cotton underwear and change it frequently to prevent a humid environment. It is also important to keep the perineal and testicular areas dry after a shower so that bacteria do not reproduce.
Lee Jang-hee, head of the urology department at Himchan General Hospital in Incheon, said, "Prostate symptoms can easily recur if the habit of direct air conditioning on the lower body in the office or vehicle in summer, long sitting patterns, and sudden temperature differences indoors and outdoors overlap"In particular, if fever, residual urine, and night urination are frequent during urination, and sexual desire or chronic fatigue are accompanied, there may be abnormalities in the prostate, so it is recommended to consult an expert."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
