When the weather is hot, sleeping with a fan on can seem like the only option to keep cool and avoid overheating.
Temperatures in the UK are expended to be above 30C this week so many people will be switching on the fan for bed but according to sleep advisors you should not do this.
Sleep Advisor says that as the cool dry air fills the room it can “causes flurries of dust and pollen to make their way into your sinuses”. This means for people with asthma or allergies it would mean their conditions worsen by using the fan. Fans are constantly blast air into our faces but they can cause sore throats and dry eyes, and dry out skin.
Dry skin can be fixed with applying lotions however, you cannot stop your pores getting blocked from the dirt off the fan. If your pores get blocked it will lead to you getting even warmer. Fans at night can also lead to sinus (sinuses are small air filled cavities behind the cheekbones and forehead) blockages which could lead to stuffiness and headaches.
Instead of sleeping with a dry fan on try freezing water bottles, placing them on a tray, and then putting that tray in front of the fan, to give the impression of an air conditioning unit.
Despite all the bad point sleeping with a fan on can be good for you as it makes a noise similar to white noise. White noise is a hum sound which makes people fall asleep.
Sleep expert Mark Reddick said: “For some people, having a ceiling or floor fan in the room helps them fall asleep and stay cool during the night.
“For others, it can keep them awake, trigger asthma attacks or dry out their eyes.
“As a fan moves air around the room, it causes flurries of dust and pollen to make their way into your sinuses.
“If you’re prone to allergies, asthma, and hay fever, this could stir up a whole lot of trouble.
A constant blast of air on your body may cause dry skin.
“Lotions and moisturisers will help prevent this, but if your skin is excessively dry, use caution and monitor your skin to make sure you’re not over drying it.
“Another thing to consider is that some people sleep with their eyes partially open.
“Again, a steady airstream will dry your eyes and may cause major irritation.”
London and across the UK are currently in a heatwave with today, July 25th, set to be the hottest day of the year…
It’s set to be the #HottestDayOfTheYear 🌡️☀️
Please remember to:
🥤Stay hydrated
☀️Stay out of the sun between 11am – 3pm
🧴 Wear sun cream
🚂Don’t get on a train if you feel unwellIf you are out in the sun today, follow the guidance from @PHE_uk 👉https://t.co/P77SOl0QGJ https://t.co/F715AxMiSw
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 25, 2019
