Sleeping with an electric fan at night could be really bad for your health
Today (25 May) is forecast to be the hottest bank holiday on record with 'historic' temperatures of 34°C predicted in Greater London and south-east England.
It comes after the UK saw its hottest May day for at least 79 years on Sunday (24 May) with a high of 32.3°C at Kew Gardens in south-west London.
Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist, told the Press Association: "We rarely see temperatures above 35°C, even in the summer months, so to see temperatures getting close to 35°C in May is, as I say, pretty historic."
Given the high temperatures, many Brits are no doubt stocking up on their SPF, making sure they stay hydrated and doing whatever they can to keep cool in their homes - including sleeping with an electric fan on all through the night.
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However, you may want to think twice before plugging one in, as doing so can apparently have quite an impact on your health.
According to Healthline, sleeping with a fan on all night might feel like a lifesaver in this heat, but apparently, your body’s not always buzzing about it.
The first issue is congestion. The constant airflow can dry out your mouth, nose and throat, which will not be fun for your sinuses first thing in the morning.
That can lead to 'an overproduction of mucus, which may cause headaches, a stuffy nose, sore throat, or even snoring', according to the experts.
And if you’re already feeling rough, a fan blasting away beside your bed could make things even worse.
Healthline states: "While a fan won’t make you sick, it may worsen symptoms if you’re already under the weather.
"You might be able to improve congestion by drinking more water and using a humidifier along with the fan."
Bad news, too, for anyone currently battling hay fever with one hand and clutching antihistamines with the other.
Fans can end up spreading pollen, dust and other allergens around the room, which isn’t exactly ideal if your eyes already feel like they’ve been rubbed with sandpaper.
Speaking of dry things, all that circulating air can also dry out your skin and eyes.
Perhaps the most unusual one – and news to most people – is that having a fan on can actually give you muscle aches.
According to Healthline: "Concentrated circulating air may cause your muscles to tense up or cramp. In this way, a fan can prompt you to wake up with sore muscles.
"You can help lessen your chances of developing muscle aches by pointing the fan away so the air doesn’t blow directly on you."
To be fair, it’s not all doom and blocked sinuses.
Loads of people swear by the white noise, especially if you live somewhere noisy or your neighbour apparently enjoys rearranging furniture at 2 am.
It also helps keep the room cool and fresh, which, during a heatwave, is pretty much the only thing anyone cares about.
So yeah, fans have their pros and cons, and whether you keep yours on tonight is entirely up to you.
Rhiannon Ingle