As the heat wave continues, many people will look for ways to relieve discomfort through proper humidification or purchasing a fan to create a man-made breeze.

Some may allow this fan to run all night. Express asked an expert if this was a good or bad idea.

Kristen Lapp, sleep writer for Sleep Junkie, argued that although fans may provide more comfort during sleep, they may have downsides.

provoke allergic reactions

“Your fan can potentially blow a barrage of dust and pollen particles from all over your room,” says Lapp. So if you have asthma or allergies, dust flying around your room can worsen or trigger symptoms.

dry air
She added: “If you sleep with your mouth open, the constant blowing of air can cause annoying dry mouth. Some people tend to sleep with their eyes partially open. While this usually has few negative side effects, excessive dryness can cause irritation. eyes, especially for people who wear contact lenses.

congestion

The dry air being pushed around the room also causes another problem – it causes congestion. Because fans dry out your nose, mouth, and throat, your body may overcompensate as a result, producing excess mucus to lubricate your body. However, the overproduction of mucus only clogs the nasal passage and leads to sinusitis, causing symptoms such as sinus headaches, stuffy nose and snoring.

Muscle stiffness and inflammation

It’s due to the effect of cold air: “The cool air focused from a fan directly on your body can make you wake up with stiff, sore muscles.

And if you sleep with a fan near your face, in particular, your neck can stiffen and ache. This is because cold air inadvertently causes muscle cramps, which means your muscles are tense.

As a result, although using a fan may relieve the feeling of sweating from long, hot nights, it can cause more discomfort than it relieves.

Other ways to stay fresh all night, according to Father, are:

• Use cold bedding.

• Wear appropriate clothing.

• Experiment with light-colored curtains.

• Take a warm bath before bed.