The cold air it pushes around can dry out your skin and eyes. And excessive dryness can trigger your body to produce more mucus, leading to congestion. Combine this with allergy symptoms, and you might wake up feeling worse than when you went to sleep.
Causes congestion
Using a fan can help you reach your ideal temperature for quality sleep. But all that air can dry your nose, mouth, and throat. Your body may produce excess mucus to make up for the dryness.
The cool, breezy air dries out your skin and eyes, making sleeping with a fan bad for health. Those who suffer from skin and eye problems like eczema, psoriasis, or dry eyes would be more vulnerable to these side effects.
Lung experts warn that using electric fans overnight can circulate dust and pollen and worsen some patients' asthma symptoms. On its website, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia noted that electric fans and open windows can increase the pollen count in your room, which could lead to more asthma problems at night.
The experts say that the fan works to circulate the air within a room. In turn it can also cause the movement of the dust particles and other allergens. These allergens can cause irritation and may lead to several degrees of allergies in the susceptible individuals.
It's best to avoid using window fans. Fans can cause pollen and dust to enter the air, making it easier to breathe. Filter the air in your home. Cover your air vents with cheesecloth to filter pollen.
Reflux and heartburn: If you suffer from heartburn, sleeping on your right side can make symptoms worse, Salas says. That's true for people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and for people who have heartburn for other reasons, such as pregnant women.
Key Takeaways. Benefits of Using a Fan: A fan helps regulate room temperature, boosts air circulation, and is more energy-efficient compared to air conditioning. It can alleviate night sweats and reduce cooling costs, making it a practical choice for many.
In the event you have allergy or sinus issues, a fan may worsen your symptoms. You may also find that sleeping with a fan may make it a challenge for you to breathe. This is particularly true if you have allergies or asthma.
In Feng Shui, mirrors are thought to bounce energy around the bedroom. This may result in restlessness and amplify the worries in your mind as you struggle to fall asleep. Any extra anxiety at night when you're trying to stay calm makes it nearly impossible to get the sleep you need.
The air blown out by your fan can irritate your sinuses, dry out your nose, mouth, and throat, and trigger your body to produce excessive mucus, leading to congestion and headaches. Apart from this, sleeping with a fan can result in a sore throat. The constant breeze may cause discomfort if you have allergies.
Causes skin irritation and infection
But it can also lead to those issues if your sleep bra is: Dirty and possibly full of bacteria. Tight or contains underwire, which can cause ridges in your skin and chafing. Too big, causing it to rub against your breasts and nipples.
“Sleeping with a fan on is unlikely to make you sick,” Han says. “However, it can indirectly cause increased respiratory and allergy symptoms in people who are sensitive to dry air or allergens.” For people with asthma, sleeping with a fan can lead to increased coughing or wheezing.
Sleeping with a fan on can have benefits such as keeping you cool, providing white noise, freshening up the air, and cutting electricity bills. However, there are drawbacks such as increased allergies, congestion, dryness, and muscle aches.
Homemade Misting Fan
Put an ice-filled bowl in front of the fan to help circulate the cool air throughout the house and keep the room cooler. In addition to keeping the room cool, doing so also helps save money on electricity.
Ceiling Fans Are a Healthier Option
This is not a problem with fans – they simply circulate the air around the room – eventually moving it out through open doors and windows. Fresh, healthy air is thus enabled to move freely through your home.
The best room temperature for sleep is approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 degrees Celsius). This may vary by a few degrees from person to person, but most doctors recommend keeping the thermostat set between 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 20 degrees Celsius) for the most comfortable sleep.
"There's a host of evidence overall suggesting that probably sleeping on the side is better," says Dr. Virend Somers, a cardiologist and director of the sleep facility within Mayo Clinic's Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Side sleeping helps prevent the airway from collapsing and can reduce snoring.
Almost everybody has a side of the bed they sleep on, and most couples need to establish this as soon as they decide to start sleeping together. Research shows that men often tend to sleep on the right as it makes them feel dominant while women prefer the left as it makes them feel safe.
When you lie flat on your back, your posture is open and relaxed, which may have a calming effect, said Ellen Hendriksen, a clinical psychologist in Boston. “Your body and mood want to align,” she said.
Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can't be washed hot, put the items in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites.
Though too small to see with the naked eye (only about . 33 millimeters long), dust mites are easily visible through even a cheap microscope. You can pick up an inexpensive microscope from any store that sells toys, a hobby store, or a thrift store and use it to discover whether your home has dust mites.