As spring gives way to summer, it’s about time your fan gets to work. Cooling air from your fan dries sweat and cools you down, but is sleeping with a fan on bad for your health?
Fans provide a cooling and comfortable breeze that most people enjoy. However, excess wind dries out the air. It may disrupt your sleep when this dry air affects your breathing. Your allergies may be aggravated, making you uncomfortable during the night. Here are four disadvantages of sleeping with the fan on.
1. Drying
If air is literally blowing all around the room, it makes sense that this would cause the body to dry out.
It is because of this that many people may wake up feeling ill in the morning – their throats or mouths may be dry, especially if they sleep with their mouths open!
A stuffy nose or reddened eyes can also result from a dry nose or dry eyes.
You may even get nosebleeds in the most extreme cases.
2. Asthma And Allergies
The fan may exacerbate allergic reactions or asthma in people who already suffer from them.
Since fans move the air, allergens are circulated throughout the room.
It’s even more problematic if you have the window open – you’re exposed to pollen, dust, mold, and other allergenic materials.
If you wake up short of breath or sneezing, this could be the cause.
3. Causes Congestion
If you leave the fan on, it can dry out your nose and throat. A dry environment causes mucus to overproduce, causing sinusitis, headaches, and stuffy noses.
It is possible to alleviate the dryness by drinking some water, but waking up to drink water repeatedly disturbs sleep.
4. May Aggravate Muscle Aches
If cold air circulates close to you, it can cause muscle contractions. If you have pre-existing muscle pain, sleeping with a fan could aggravate it. Concentrated cool air makes muscles tense and cramp.
The same problem can result from sleeping with the air conditioner on at night. Set your room temperature between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid waking up sore.
How To Minimize the Negative Effects of Sleeping With the Fan On
There are ways to minimize the negative effects of sleeping with the fan on. Your health is affected by the fan’s speed and distance from you. By keeping the fan further away from you or setting a timer, you can avoid nasal congestion, headaches, muscle aches, and eye dryness.
Buy a Rotating Fan
Rotating fans prevent the continuous flow of air in one direction. Even distribution of airflow keeps you cool while potentially preventing stiff neck, muscle aches, and dry nose, mouth, and eyes.
Use Air Filters
By installing air filters in the room, you can reduce the circulation of dust-mites, spores, and other allergens. This may be helpful for allergy sufferers.
Set a Timer
The fan can be set to turn off an hour or a couple of hours after you go to bed. It eliminates the possibility of a cold breeze blowing throughout the night, which can be uncomfortable.
Keep Fan at a Distance
When you keep the fan 2 to 3 feet away, the concentrated airflow won’t affect you as much. As opposed to a gust of air directly blowing on you, you’ll have a light breeze while you sleep. If you sleep with the ceiling fan on, keep the speed at a moderate level to prevent excessive dryness.
References: amerisleep.com, relayhero.com
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