During the summer, we usually feel sleepy from the heat. But at the same time, it's also pretty hard to drift off on a sweltering day. Using an electric fan is always the first option for us to accelerate air circulation and cool things down. Unfortunately, according to some scientists, this solution may cause some adverse effects on our health.
1. Flying Dust
In addition to keeping air circulating, a fan can also stir up lingering dust and pollen particles. If you have allergies and experience sneezing or worsening nasal symptoms, the dust will probably cause a flare-up in your nasal allergies. Be sure the fan is clean before using it.
2. Dryness Of The Skin
Moreover, according to Mark Reddick of The Sleep Advisor, running a fan all night long may cause dry skin. Then we will need the extra moisturizers and lotions to protect our skin and relieve dryness.
3. Bloodshot Eyes And Dry Mouth
Many people may not be aware that we don't always keep our eyes fully closed when sleeping. As a result, the air blasting out of the fan can easily redden them. Besides, our mouths will also be uncomfortably dry under the continuous action of the fan.
4. Stuffiness
Even though we can tightly shut our eyes and mouths when sleeping, the constant stream of air will also dry out our nasal passages and affect our sinuses. If the environment is too dry, our bodies may produce more mucus to compensate. Consequently, we are more susceptible to stuffiness and sinus headaches.
5. Muscle Stiffness
According to Reddick, the continuous cool air from the fan will bring some harmful effects to our faces or any exposed areas of our bodies. Thus, we should be vigilant when feeling a little sore after waking up because there is a risk of facial paralysis.
6. Sore Throat
A sore throat is another common problem caused by using the electric fan for a long time. However, Dr. Dasha Fielder thinks waking with a sore throat may not be the fault of the fan. It always happens when we sleep with our mouth open. She also explained: "That may happen when you are hot."
7. Expiry Date
But Dr. Fielder also agrees that upgrading the fan is essential. Indeed, an old fan with impaired function may cause even more problems. If you've had a fan for over ten years, please replace it as soon as possible.
8. Being Ineffective
There are others that insist the fan itself is a big problem, no matter if we're sleeping with it on or not. According to a 2012 study from the Cochrane Library, electric fans will be ineffective at a specific temperature and become dangerous to our bodies. How can it be?
9. Heat Exhaustion
According to the research, if the temperature rises above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the fan can't blow cool air anymore. Instead, it will blow air that is warmer than human body temperature. Hence, in this condition, we can suffer from heat stroke as a result of excess sweating.
10. Reason To Find Better Ways
However, if the weather is too hot, we can't sleep well without the fan. Indeed, getting enough sleep is essential for us, but it's not that easy to switch off our brains when the weather is uncooperative. Is there any other better way to deal with it?
11. Plan A
If it's a rainy day in summer, the room inside must be very humid and hot, but the outside is probably not. Try to open the window, and let the breeze blow into the house. However, this plan may not be useful when it's also very sticky outside. Don't worry! There is a plan B.
12. Plan B
We can try to reduce the heat in the first place. The United Kingdom National Health Service advises "using shades or reflective material outside the windows." Or we can just simply close the curtains to cut off the light. Remember, use light-colored drapes, for the darker ones have the opposite effect.
13. Reconsidering Turning On The Fan
In conclusion, leaving a fan on for a long time during the day or at night has adverse effects on our health. If you're prone to allergies, please don't use the fan for too long, even when feeling hot.
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