Four disturbing reasons you should not sleep with a fan on this week
With temperatures set to soar in the UK this week, people have been warned about the 'life-threatening' dangers of sleeping with a fan on.
In the coming days some areas of the country could enjoy highs of 32C, and while us Brits love to complain about it being too cold or too hot, this is the summer we have all been waiting for!
It can be hard to sleep at night at the best of times, but a hot and sweaty situation is never helpful.
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Most of us remedy the humid nights by having a fan in the corner of the room, but an expert has warned that this could actually be the opposite of a good idea.
Not only this, but sleeping with a fan could potentially have 'life-threatening' consequences.
Electric appliance expert Andrai Carcu has shared some reasons to not opt for the cooler option, and why it might be best to suck up the heat.
Dust in your fan could be fire hazard
As per TeesideLive, the expert said: "A buildup of dust can be a serious problem for your electric fan, as it might accumulate in the fan’s motor.
"This will lead it to overheat and potentially catch fire."
However, it's not all bad news, as there is a way to avoid this dangerous.
Carcu added: "However, this is easily avoidable by regularly cleaning your fan, particularly the blades, the vent and the motor if possible to remove any buildup of dust.
"Before tackling the fan itself, always disconnect the device and adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines in the manual."
Your fan could be spreading allergens
While fans are made to circulate air around the room, if the appliance has potential allergens trapped inside, it could be making you hay fever a lot worse than it needs to be.
Carcu said: "Dusty fan blades allow dust mites, spores, pollen and other allergens to also disperse in the area.
"Frequent sneezing, watery eyes, a runny nose, itchy throat, or difficulty breathing are all signs that you could be spreading allergens around the room without realising it."
Dry air can leave you feeling congested
We've all woken up from sleeping with air-con on in a hotel room, and it's safe to say it can make you feel pretty rough the next day.
But it seems as though fans can create a similar outcome.
The expert added: "If you leave your fan on continuously throughout the day, the air can become dry due to the constant airflow, which in turn will dry out your nose and throat."
Air from your fan can lead to muscle cramps
This is one you might not have heard about before, but apparently sleeping with a fan on may be the cause of your stiff neck in the morning.
"Directing your electric fan towards you can exacerbate muscle pain, as the cool air is more likely to build up tension and trigger cramping in your muscles," Carcu explained.
The expert did, however, give some advice on how to stay cool without the use of a fan, which included closing your curtains, drinking cold water, and taking a cool shower before bed.
Mia Williams