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Health

21st Jul 2021

Experts warn not to sleep with a fan on all night (but we’ll probably do it anyway)

Kat O'Connor

Dyson fans and Irish Mammy salads have taken over Ireland this week.

I’ve never hated my duvet more than I have the past week. Ireland’s heatwave has reminded us that we’re simply not cut out for these soaring temperatures. I feel like the sun got lost on its way to Spain so if it could hop back on a Ryanair flight and leave us be, that’d be great.

I know I shouldn’t complain about the heat because of the never-ending rain and dreary days, but dare I say it, it’s TOO warm.

Dyson fans and Irish Mammy salads have taken over and drinking six cups of tea a day is now a thing of the past. The fan has become our new best friend, but it looks like sleeping with the fan on is actually bad for your help.

According to a report from Sleep Advisor, fans may be circulating dust and pollen as you try to doze off at night. This isn’t ideal for those of us who suffer from asthma or allergies.

If you’ve been waking up in the morning feeling a little stuffy then you can blame the fan too. According to the experts, sleeping with a fan next to you can dry out your skin, cause muscle tension and even stuffy noses, which is the last thing we want to wake up with when the Delta variant is spreading across the country.

“The constant stream of air also has a tendency to dry out your nasal passages, which could affect your sinuses. If the dryness is particularly extreme, it can result in your body producing excess mucous to try to compensate. Then, you’re more susceptible to blockage, stuffiness, and sinus headaches.”

“People who sleep with a breeze directly on them may wake up with stiff or sore muscles. This is because the concentrated cool air can make muscles tense up and cramp.

“This problem is especially common for people who sleep with it near their face and neck. If you’ve been waking up with a stiff neck in the morning, it might be because of the constant breeze.”

So I guess we need to keep the fan at a distance too.

Experts have advised people to keep a glass of water nearby if they’re sleeping with their fan on at night.

They may recommend sleeping without the fan on all night, but I don’t fancy melting like the witch in The Wizard of Oz so I’m going to do it anyway.