Getting a good night’s sleep is no picnic in the middle of a heatwave. Is it just me or does the hot, clammy weather turn the whole thing into an Olympic sport rather than a cozy reprieve? Not cool (pun intended).
A lot of people tend to stick on a fan to give their bodies some semblance of cool air when the weather gets like this, but what about at night? Is it safe to sleep with an electric fan on?
Fans are a great way to keep cool during the heatwave, but you should take a look at what type of fan you buy first, especially when it comes to sleeping with one on.
According to The Sleep Advisor, while having a fan does circulate air to make your room cooler and fresher, it can also circulate pollen and dust. Not great if you suffer from allergies, asthma, or hay fever.
“Take a close look at your fan,” The Sleep Advisor suggests. “If it’s been collecting dust on the blades, those particles are flying through the air every time you turn it on.”
Other reasons not to sleep with a fan on include the fact that it can dry out your skin, as well as your nasal passages. If your nasal passages become too dry, The Sleep Advisor warns that the body can produce excess mucous, making you feel all bunged up.
And then there’s muscle cramping. “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,” the experts explain. “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.”
According to AWM, experts admit that sleeping with a fan can have some benefits.
First off, the white noise from the fan might help you sleep better. The generic hum of the fan can block out other sounds that might distract you from getting a good night’s sleep. Using a fan can be a cheap and cost-effective way to get the white noise you need to help support the sleep you desire.
Fans can also help make a room feel less stuffy.
So while a fan in your bedroom might seem like the only way to counteract the constant heat, it could be worth trying other things like a cool flannel in a bowl of water near your bed, or sleeping on top of the covers with the window wide open.
Sources: AWM, The Sleep Advisor
