Sleeping with a floor or ceiling fan on is an excellent, low-budget way of keeping cool during the summer months, but the constant breeze may hurt your health. Your sleep may be disrupted from coughing and sneezing, or you may wake up feeling stiff and sore. On the other hand, sleeping with a fan circulates air and saves you money on your electricity bill.<\/p>\n
Our article reviews the benefits and drawbacks of sleeping with a fan on and shares alternative ways to keep cool at night.<\/p>\n
Sleeping with the fan keeps you cool through those hot and humid summers and consumes less energy than an air conditioner.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur body temperature falls on a night and we sleep better when our sleep environment is cooler,\u201d says Professor Stuart Peirson at the University of Oxford.<\/span><\/p>\n As long as you take steps to minimize a fan\u2019s negative impacts, like replacing air filters and keeping the fan at a safe distance from the bed, you can enjoy the benefits of continuous airflow.<\/p>\n The steady airstream from a fan helps regulate room temperature by wicking away moisture from your body. Hot sleepers, in particular, may appreciate the cooling power of electric fans\u2014they\u2019re less likely to wake up from night sweats if there\u2019s a steady airstream.<\/p>\n An open window allows dirt, pollen, and other allergens into the bedroom, increasing the risk of sneezing and coughing at night, but a fan provides a constant stream of air without letting in allergens.<\/p>\n A fan isn\u2019t as effective as the constant blast of cold air from an air conditioner, but it consumes less energy. You can save money on your electricity bill during the summer months by using a fan instead of air conditioning.<\/p>\n To circulate cooler air from your electric fan, place a bowl of ice cubes in front of it. The cooler air feels similar to an air conditioner and may reduce room temperature, but the extra cool air only lasts a couple of hours.<\/p>\n Allergic reactions, dry eyes and skin, congestion, and sore muscles are side effects you may experience when sleeping with a fan on. These negative effects disrupt sleep and lead to sleep deprivation.<\/p>\n A fan doesn\u2019t just circulate air\u2014it also circulates dust mites, pollen, and dirt. Breathing in these allergens can trigger allergic reactions, including watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and trouble breathing. If you have asthma, hay fever, or allergies, these allergens can worsen symptoms.<\/p>\n Even with your eyes closed, the stream of air can dry out your eyes and cause discomfort. The air from a fan also causes dry skin, wicking away any moisture off the skin\u2019s surface, and leaving your skin irritated and brittle. Using body lotion before bed may alleviate the problem.<\/p>\n Leaving a fan on at night can dry nasal passages and cause a sore throat. Normally, nasal passages are covered with a thin layer of mucus to protect against foreign debris, like bacteria. Excessive dryness<\/a> leads to the overproduction of mucus, which causes congestion and increases the risk of sinus infection.<\/p>\n A constant stream of cold air may lead to stiff and sore muscles in the morning. Muscles tense up when joints are exposed to cool air, especially if you have the fan next to the bed. Cold air can also cause painful muscle spasms if you have certain medical conditions, like multiple sclerosis.<\/p>\n Sleeping with a fan on may be bad for your health, but there are ways to reduce its negative effects for better sleep. Keeping the fan at a safe distance, replacing air filters, buying a rotating floor fan, and setting a timer can decrease dry air and reduce allergic reactions.<\/p>\n Instead of setting an electric fan right next to you, keep the fan at least 3 feet away, so the concentrated airflow doesn\u2019t affect you as much\u2014you\u2019ll experience less muscle stiffness. Also, try to keep the fan running at a moderate speed to prevent excessive dryness, which may irritate skin and cause congestion.<\/p>\n An air filter absorbs flurries of dust particles and pollen, reducing the risk of allergy flare-ups. Plus, an air filter reduces symptoms of asthma and hay fever.<\/p>\n Instead of a constant blast of air in one direction, a rotating fan moves air throughout the bedroom. You\u2019ll feel cooler without the risk of sore muscles and dry eyes and nose.<\/p>\n Setting a timer ensures the fan turns off a few hours after bedtime so you don\u2019t feel constant blasts of air throughout the night.<\/p>\n Other cooling methods regulate temperature without the adverse effects of a running fan, like congestion. These options include showering before bed, hanging light-colored curtains, and choosing a cooling mattress<\/a> and bedding.<\/p>\n A warm shower or bath before bed raises your body temperature, but improves the body\u2019s natural drop in temperature as you prepare for sleep. The cooler internal temperature slows blood flow and heart rate, causing you to feel sleepy.<\/p>\n Try to avoid dark-colored curtains because they absorb heat, raising the room temperature. Light-colored curtains reflect light and heat, so the bedroom feels cooler.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, be aware that light-colored curtains may allow more light from outside into your bedroom,\u201d says Professor Peirson. \u201cThis means that if you have outdoor light pollution this could disturb your sleep. In addition, daylight will more likely wake you in the morning. This can be a good thing, but may not be ideal if you work shifts or in the summer when the sun rises early.”<\/p>\n Cooling mattresses, like memory foam mattresses with cooling technologies<\/a> or hybrids with open coil systems<\/a>, absorb body heat and improve circulation inside the bed. You\u2019re less likely to wake up hot.<\/p>\n Sleeping with breathable bedding made from cotton and bamboo also regulates body temperature because they wick away moisture and allow hot air to escape. The best sleeping temperature is between 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit. As you prepare for sleep, your body temperature drops\u2014heart rate and blood flow decrease, causing the muscles to relax. A room cooler or warmer than the recommended sleeping temperature<\/a> may lead to poor sleep quality because the body struggles to maintain a comfortable core temperature of 98 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t If you\u2019re a stomach sleeper, you may sleep better without a pillow. When you lie on your stomach, there\u2019s little to no gap between your neck and the mattress. Sleeping with a pillow lifts your head higher than your shoulders and strains neck muscles, causing pain. However, sleeping without a pillow aligns the head with your shoulders and hips, and you\u2019re less likely to experience a stiff neck.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tComfortable Sleep<\/h3>\n
Boost Air Circulation<\/h3>\n
Save Money<\/h3>\n
Drawbacks of Sleeping with a Fan On<\/h2>\n
Allergic Reactions<\/h3>\n
Dry Eyes and Skin<\/h3>\n
Nasal Congestion<\/h3>\n
Sore Muscles<\/h3>\n
How to Minimize the Negative Effects of Sleeping with a Fan On<\/h3>\n
Keep at a Safe Distance<\/h4>\n
Use an Air Filter<\/h4>\n
Buy a Rotating Fan<\/h4>\n
Set a Timer<\/h4>\n
Alternative Ways to Sleep Cool<\/h2>\n
Shower Before Bed<\/h3>\n
Light-Colored Curtains<\/h3>\n
Cool Mattress and Bedding<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\tFrequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\t\t
What is the best sleeping temperature?<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
Is it better to sleep with or without a pillow?<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t