You can feel more refreshed and have better sleep with the ventilation that a fan provides. However, you should never sleep with a fan pointed directly at you.
The Sun website mentions the recommendation of Dr. Mark Reddick from Agnco Hospital, USA: "For some people, having a fan in the room helps them sleep and keeps them cool throughout the night, but for others, it can make them wake up, cause asthma attacks, or dry out their eyes." The harmful effects of pointing a fan directly at a person at night can be more severe than you think."
Allergies can worsen
You should limit using a fan while you sleep if you are prone to allergies, even if you are not focusing the fan directly on yourself.
"When a fan moves the air around the room, it creates dust and pollen streams that invade your sinuses. If you are prone to allergies, asthma, and dry eyes, it can make the condition worse.
"Additionally, for some people who don't fully close their eyes while sleeping, the fan can dry out their eyes and cause serious irritation. If you wear contact lenses while sleeping, it can be even more problematic," Dr. Mark Reddick explained.
Experts advise everyone to clean the fan regularly, as dust on the fan blades will be blown into the air every time you turn on the fan.
Causing dry skin, dry mouth, and dry nose
Using a fan can accelerate the evaporation of sweat, leading to dehydration and causing dryness in the skin, mouth, and nose.
Mark Reddick explains, "People are at risk of dry skin due to the continuous airflow blowing on them. Moisturizers and hydrating creams can help prevent this, but if your skin is already too dry, be careful and keep an eye out to ensure that the fan does not over-dry your skin."
Try to regain lost moisture by drinking enough water if you use a fan regularly.
Muscle cramps
Continuous direct airflow from a fan can make you feel cold and cause muscle cramps.
The temperature tends to drop quickly at night, which leads to a feeling of coldness than usual. One of the most common causes of muscle cramps is exposure to cold air.
On the other hand, on hot nights, the fan can blow hot air onto the body and increase body temperature, leading to various heat-related conditions, affecting organs, disrupting sweat balance, and causing fatigue, discomfort, headaches, dizziness, and even nausea.
To prevent the potential harm of pointing a fan directly at a person while sleeping at night, consider these safe cooling methods:
To handle hot nights, partially open a window while sleeping to cool the air. Use mosquito nets or protective screens to prevent mosquito bites.
To prevent dehydration and cool down the bed, place a wet towel or water bowl near the head. This way will significantly increase the humidity in the bedroom.
To use a fan while sleeping, adjust its direction to prevent direct airflow. Position the fan near a window to draw in outside air and circulate it continuously in the room, ensuring a comfortable sleeping environment.
Additionally, you can also consider using a ceiling fan as an alternative to a pedestal fan, as ceiling fans distribute airflow over a wider area, providing more consistent room cooling.
