For many, sleeping with a ceiling fan on helps keep them cool and creates white noise needed to block out outside sounds that may disrupt a restful night’s sleep. However, sleeping with a ceiling fan on also has its downsides and can negatively impact your health in several ways.
Because of their circular motion and propensity to gather dust, it comes as no surprise that ceiling fans circulate allergens in the room and dry out your nose, mouth, and throat – especially while you sleep. This causes symptoms such as congestion, allergies, and dry skin and eyes.
The rest of this article will explore the reasons behind congestion caused by ceiling fans, highlight the negative health effects of sleeping with a ceiling fan on, and suggest ways to mitigate these health effects.
Why do Ceiling Fans Cause Congestion?
Ceiling fans cause congestion because they dry out your nose, mouth, and throat, which results in your body producing excess mucus. Frequently using a ceiling fan can cause watery eyes, sore, itchy throat, runny nose, headache, sneezing, or – in severe cases – difficulty breathing.
Those suffering from chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma are particularly vulnerable to congestion caused by ceiling fans. Dust and other allergens are constantly circulated through the air and trigger allergy and asthma attacks.
Are Ceiling Fans Bad for Allergy Sufferers?
For those suffering from allergies, the dust and allergens are circulated constantly when a ceiling fan is on and cause allergy flare-ups. These allergens can be especially problematic during the springtime when excess pollen triggers allergy attacks.
Aside from pollen, several common allergens are released and circulated when a ceiling fan is on. Common allergens that trigger congestion and respiratory irritation include:
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Dust mites
- Fabric particles
- Mold spores
- Cockroaches
- Household dust
Can Sleeping with a Ceiling Fan on Worsen a Cold?
If you have a cold or a respiratory infection, sleeping with a fan on is one of the worst things you can do. It will slow your recovery, worsen your symptoms, and deprive you of quality sleep – something hard enough to achieve while you’re sick.
Sleeping with a fan on while you are sick worsens symptoms of congestion, further drying out your sinuses and triggering excess mucus that can cause difficulty breathing and make it a lot harder to recover.
What are the Downsides of Sleeping with a Ceiling Fan On?
The following are research-backed reasons to reconsider sleeping with a fan on.
Ceiling fans may trigger asthma or allergies
Due to the constantly rotating blades, dust and allergens never have the opportunity to settle. Dust also accumulates on the fan blades themselves, which is dispersed whenever the fan is on.
It can worsen poor indoor air quality
If you live in an area that already has poor air quality, ceiling fans only worsen the problem – especially combined with an open window. The rotating fan blades draw in pollution from outdoors, such as engine exhaust, smoke or fumes from nearby factories, and other sources.
It can make you vulnerable to getting sick
Ceiling fans dry out your mucus membranes. When you don’t have enough mucus in your nose, mouth, and throat, this makes you more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections.
Nosebleeds are also an unfortunate side effect to dry sinuses.
It can cause congestion
As stated before in this article, the circulating air dries out your mucus membranes and triggers your body to produce excess mucus. This causes stuffiness, sneezing, sore or itchy throat, and runny nose.
It can spread germs
This is especially true during cold and flu season, or when someone in your household is sick. Bacteria and viruses can spread through the air and make you sick.
Dry skin
Your sinuses aren’t the only part of your body drying out from the ceiling fan. Your skin can dry out and become cracked, especially during the winter.
Dehydration
With the air drying out your mouth and sinuses, your body loses valuable hydration.
How do I Minimize the Bad Effects of Sleeping with a Fan On?
While sleeping with a fan on has downsides, there are ways to stay healthy and cut down on the negative health effects caused by fans.
- Keep your home clean – regular cleaning, vacuuming, and dusting reduces the amount of dust and allergens in your home. Make sure to also clean fan blades.
- Place a bowl of water in front of the fan – this method works for standing fans, and reduces symptoms of dry skin, eyes, and dehydration
- Aim fan away from the face – for a standing fan or other portable fan, aim the fan so it doesn’t point directly at your face. Many standing fans also have rotating settings.
- Keep the fan at a distance – it is recommended to have at least six feet of distance between the fan and your face.
- Keep fan on lower setting – high-powered fans increase negative health symptoms
- Use a humidifier in addition to a fan – this helps decrease symptoms of dehydration and congestion
- If you live in an area with poor air quality, such as in a city, sleep with the window closed when using a fan.
Alternatives to Ceiling Fans
For severe allergy sufferers or those with chronic respiratory conditions, using any kind of fan might be out of the question.
If the negative health effects of using ceiling fans alarm you enough to keep those blades stationary during the night, consider one of the following alternatives to help keep you cool.
- Use air conditioning – most air conditioners are equipped with filters that keep dust and allergens from irritating your sinuses.
- Sleep with less clothing – consider sleeping in your underwear or in the nude, or with thinner/fewer blankets.
- Get a white noise machine – if you are using a fan primarily for the white noise, opt instead for a white noise machine. They produce a soothing sound that blocks out outside noise, which is especially beneficial if you live in the city or somewhere with a lot of traffic.
- There are white noise apps you can download on your phone as well, or even YouTube sound clips with long stretches of white noise or ambient music.
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Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20180727/Using-a-fan-to-cool-down-can-worsen-allergies-like-hayfever.aspx