What happens to your body if you sleep with a fan on all night during heatwave
Much of the country is set to swelter in 30-something degree heat again this week, and it can make sleeping a nightmare.
Unsurprisingly, many of us put our hopes in a fan to try and keep us cool enough to catch some sleep, seeing as air conditioning units are scarce.
High temperatures and sweaty bedrooms can mean sleep is impossible, so you're forgiven for thinking a fan on full blast is the best idea.
Trying to drift off to sleep while feeling like you're stuck in a sauna is never fun, so it can be tempting to sleep with fan pointing straight at you for the entire night in order to get some relief.
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However, experts are warning that this is a very bad idea for a number of reasons, and can actually trigger quite a few health problems, some of them severe.
Dr Hana Patel is an NHS GP and resident sleep expert at Time4Sleep.
She told Metro about how it can irritate allergies and other health problems, here is everything sleeping with a fan on at night can do to your body.
Allergies
If you have allergies or asthma which is triggered by things like dust, sleeping with a fan on can be dangerous.
Dr Patel said this happens as the fan circulates allergens around the room while you sleep 'increasing the likelihood of them being breathed in, or coming into contact with your skin.’
If you find you're waking up with a sore throat, itching or sneezing, it can be a sign the fan is worsening things.
It can stir up dust mites, spores and pollen.
"You are likely to find that the fan will cause more issues than benefits, due to it inflaming your medical condition, this is especially the case for children," warns the doctor.
Feeling congested
There's nothing worse than waking up feeling all groggy and snotty rather than refreshed.
Sleep therapist Natalie Pennicotte-Collier said your beloved fan is the cause: "A fan running all night progressively dries the mucosal membranes lining your nose, throat and upper airways. Your body responds by producing more mucus."
Pain
Waking up with aches and pains can be a common thing for many people, but Dr Patel warns a fan can exacerbate it, due to 'the consistent cold air leads to your muscles tightening as you sleep, causing you to feel aches when you wake up'.
While feeling cool is great, is it worth muscle cramps and pain?
Dry eyes and mouth
Nobody like waking up with a mouth dryer than the Sahara desert, but this is one of the most common results of sleeping with a fan on.
Not only that, but it can really dry out your skin and eyes, too.
To save your skin from drying up, your best bet is to moisturise before bed.
It can also cause your eyes to dry out too, and cause dryer and uncomfortable skin as well as bad breath.
Perhaps you should give the fan a miss.
Topics: Weather, Health, Women's Health
Jen Thomas