Doctor advises against using fans for sleep during warm weather due to potential health risks.
Cranking up the fan during those sweltering nights might seem like a lifesaver, but a top doc has a word of caution. According to Dr. Naheed Ali, leaving your fan on all night can leave you feeling less than fresh the next morning.
Why, you ask? Well, running a fan can create a hidden stress on the body. This stress can manifest in several ways, such as a dry sinus and throat, which can lead to feelings of discomfort and congestion in the morning.
Moreover, continuous airflow can cause dust particles to stir up, leading to chest tightness and excessive sneezing for those with asthma or allergies. Fear not, though! Dr. Ali shares some tips to minimize these potential health risks.
For instance, setting your fan on a timer for 90 minutes (the first sleep cycle) and directing the airflow away from your bed can help reduce the risk of uncomfortable dryness. Keeping a glass of water by your bedside can also help alleviate any dryness that may occur during the night.
And remember, your trusty fan offers relief by cooling your skin through speeding up evaporation. However, constant airflow can leave nasal passages and your throat feeling dry and uncomfortable, leading to issues like dry mouth or throat.
'A dry airway produces thicker mucus,' Dr. Ali explains, 'which can trap allergens and irritants close to sensitive tissue.’ Over time, this mucus can linger, causing coughing, a scratchy voice, or persistent sinus issues.
For those who simply can't sleep without their fan on, there are some easy strategies to reduce the health risks:
- Freeze your hot water bottle to create an instant cooling sensation when you put it on your bed.
- Place your pillowcase or socks in the freezer for a quick burst of coolness when you need it most.
- Keep your skincare products in the fridge for a refreshing touch during your bedtime routine.
- Use a water spray bottle or mister to spritz your face, neck, and wrists with cold water before hitting the hay.
- Mist your bedding and pillows with cold water for an all-around cooling effect.
For those who prefer to avoid using their fans altogether, there are more creative solutions to keep cool at night:
- Use breathable fabrics (like cotton or linen) for your bedding.
- Take a cool shower before bed to lower your core body temperature.
- Use a damp cloth on pulse points (like your wrists or neck) for evaporative cooling.
- Invest in a portable air conditioner or cooling mattress pad for sustained relief from the heat.
[1] Naheed Ali, PhD, Senior Contributor, Vera Clinic[3] Allergens, Asthma UK, https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/allergy-triggers/allergens/
- Dr. Naheed Ali warns that running a fan all night can leave one feeling less than fresh in the morning due to hidden stress on the body.
- The stress caused by a fan can result in discomfort and congestion the next morning, as well as chest tightness and excessive sneezing for those with asthma or allergies.
- To minimize these potential health risks, Dr. Ali suggests setting the fan on a timer for 90 minutes and directing the airflow away from the bed, keeping a glass of water by the bedside, and using other strategies like a frozen hot water bottle or a water spray bottle to spritz the face before bed.
- A dry airway produced by constant fan use can trap allergens and irritants close to sensitive tissue, leading to coughing, a scratchy voice, or persistent sinus issues.
- For those who can't sleep without their fan, alternative strategies include using breathable fabrics for bedding, taking a cool shower before bed, using a damp cloth on pulse points, and investing in portable air conditioning or cooling mattress pads.
- Navigating sleep-related health issues like these requires a combination of good mental-health practices, science-backed tips, and personal preferences, all falling under the umbrella of health-and-wellness and mental-health.
