Using an electric fan is usually our first choice to drive summer drowsiness away. Although the electric fan seems environmentally friendly, scientists have pointed out that such a solution may cause adverse effects on our health.
1. Sore Throat
A sore throat occurs when we sleep with our mouths open, but it's also usually caused by using the fan for too long.
2. Heatstroke
When the room temperature reaches 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the fan can no longer produce cold air but air higher than body temperature. In this case, heat stroke will happen due to excessive sweating.
3. Old Fans
Fans that are more than 10 years old can cause more problems. For this reason, Dr. Field believes it is necessary to upgrade the fan from time to time.
4. Being Ineffective
Using the electric fan may cause problems, yet many believe that the fan itself is a problem. According to a 2012 study, electric fans fail at certain temperatures and are harmful to our health.
5. Plan B
We can actually use natural methods to reduce the heat and place electric fans in second place. The United Kingdom National Health Service suggests using light-colored curtains or reflective materials. Do not use dark curtains because it will have the opposite effect!
6. Bloodshot Eyes And Dry Mouth
Interesting fact: we don't keep our eyes completely shut during sleep. As a result, having an eclectic fan blowing while sleeping would cause bloodshot eyes. Also, a dry mouth may happen with a blowing fan.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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?
12. 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.
13. 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.
