If you don’t have air conditioning, or you’re trying to save some money on electricity, then when it gets warm at night you might decide to crank up the fan.
It makes sense, after all, that you’d want your sleeping environment to be comfortable enough to be conducive for sleeping through the night.
No one wants to wake up soaked in sweat and unable to go back to sleep.
But did you know what happens to the body when you go to sleep with the fan on?
You’ve likely never stopped to consider it. But the truth is that it could be causing you more trouble than you know, especially if you’ve been using this fan the wrong way.
Here are some of the potential downsides you could be causing!
1. Drying
If you have air literally blowing all around the room, it makes perfect sense that this could have drying effects on the body.
This is why a lot of people might wake up feeling a little ill in the morning – their throats or mouths might be dry, especially if they tend to sleep with their mouths open!
You might also feel a dry nose or dry eyes, resulting in a stuffy nose or reddened eyes.
In the most extreme of cases, sometimes you might even get nosebleeds.
2. Asthma And Allergies
Those who already experience allergic reactions or asthma might find them exacerbated by having the fan on.
This is because fans move the air, leading to all sorts of allergens being circulated through the air.
This is even more troubling if you have the window open – you’re opening yourself up to all sorts of pollen, dust, mold, and allergic materials.
If you tend to wake up short of breath or sneezing, this might be why.
3. Soreness
Believe it or not, having a fan on while you sleep can lead to feelings of soreness in the muscles every morning.
This is because the cool, circulating air can lead to the contraction of muscles, causing stiffness and discomfort.
According to the website The Sleep Advisor, there are a number of ways to position a fan correctly so that you don’t suffer these effects.
If you use a standing fan, make sure that the fan is not pointed too directly or closely at your face, and take it apart to wipe down the blades often.
If you use a ceiling fan, make sure to give the blades a wipe to get rid of dust regularly.
You can also use an air purifier in your room – no matter what type of fan you use – to reduce the effects of allergens in the air.
So, are fans horrible for you when you sleep at night? Not necessarily, if you keep them clean and use them the right way.
After all, there are many people who absolutely need their fan to sleep at night, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
As long as you’re using your fan well and keeping your room clean, you’ll likely be alright.