Do you turn on a fan before bed? While some people say the cool breeze and low hum help them fall asleep, there could be some drawbacks. Fans don’t pose serious risks during the night, but for some people, they might lead to mildly irritating symptoms.
Your sleep may be disrupted by coughing and sneezing, or you may wake up feeling stiff and sore. On the other hand, sleeping with a fan circulates air and saves you money on your electricity bill.
According to AWM, here are a few things that could happen to you when you sleep with the fan running:
Drying Effect:
It makes sense that blowing air around all night could cause a drying effect, but many people wake up feeling a bit worse for the wear because of it. If you use a fan, you might wake with a dry mouth or throat. If you sleep with your mouth open, things can get downright parched as a result. Similarly, people also experience dry eyes and nose, leaving your eyes red and your nose possibly stuff or irritated when you wake up.
In more severe cases, people have experienced nosebleeds because of the dry air. If you already suffer from nosebleeds when the air is dry, then you might want to reconsider using a fan.
Allergies and Asthma:
Anyone who suffers from allergies and/or asthma may find that running a nightly fan exacerbates their symptoms. Consider that a fan is blowing air around — which may contain allergens such as dust, cat dander, mold, or pollen, if the window is open. Suddenly, you’re caught up in a whirlwind of allergic matter that may cause increases in sneezing, itchiness, or even make breathing more difficult.
Soreness:
Can running a fan while you sleep cause muscle soreness? Interestingly, it may make your muscles stiffen or contract when the air hits a certain temperature, especially if cool outside air is being circulated.
If you do decide to use a fan at night, you might want to purchase a portable one so you can move it around. Keeping the fan 2 to 3 feet away will protect you from a concentrated airflow.
The decision to sleep with a fan or air conditioner depends on several important factors. These include your medical history, dry air sensitivity, indoor air quality, and personal preferences.
Both fans and air conditioners can help you beat the heat. But, they do so in different ways. The former circulates air to help you stay cool. And the latter cools the air to lower the temperature in your environment. And unlike fans, air conditioners help filter the air and keep humidity levels steady. So they may be a better choice if you have asthma or certain allergies. But keep in mind that older air conditioning systems may not ventilate the air well enough. Interestingly, running an attic or window fan can help improve ventilation and air quality if you do have an older system.
That said, air conditioners use a lot of energy and can be costly. So fans might be a better, more energy-efficient choice on less humid days. Both fans and air conditioners are effective cooling methods. And no matter which one you choose, keeping indoor pollutants to a minimum is critical. So, make sure your living space is clean and well-ventilated.
Watch the interesting facts about sleeping with the Fan on below:
Source: AWM
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