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The Downside of Sleeping with a Fan at Night

Tara Youngblood Sep 08, 2022

Sleeping with a fan

Let’s face it, none of us like to sleep in a hot room. Sleeping in a roasting and stuffy space makes it more difficult to fall asleep, harder to sleep deeper, and impossible to stay comfortable throughout the night.

To address these problems and find some comfort this summer while sleeping, you might be finding yourself scrambling to find a fan, hoping it will keep you cool at night. This simple and relatively effective solution may not be as great as you think.

Did You Know? A fan will not actually cool your body temperature. Designed to circulate air in a room and help maintain moisture, a fan merely blows air out, creating a cooling illusion.

We’ll discuss the downsides of sleeping with a fan at night and a more effective solution to staying cool in bed all night long, resulting in deeper and more restorative sleep.

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Say goodbye to drafts and hello to personalized, optimal sleep temperatures ranging from 55º-115ºF. Sleep cool today with Chilipad Bed Cooling Systems!

Is Sleeping with a Fan on Bad for You?

Are you aware of the side effects of sleeping with a fan on you? If not, you’re not alone. Sleeping with a fan poses some health risks. Although most of these health problems are minor and often more irritating than anything else, they are significant enough to reconsider using a fan while sleeping.

1. Allergies

A dirty fan may be making things worse if you are allergic to pollen or dust. A fan blowing throughout the night stirs up the air and circulates pollen and dust around your bedroom. Inhaling these allergens may make your symptoms worse.

Studies show seasonal allergies contribute to sleep disorders, snoring, and lower quality sleep. [1]

Bedroom Fans and Allergies

Over time, household allergens and dust mites can build up on the ceiling fan blades without you knowing.

2. Sinus Irritation

Air from your fan can irritate your sinuses and dry out your nose, mouth, and throat. In response to this, your body may start to overproduce mucus, which can cause congestion (stuffy nose) and headaches.

Additionally, sleeping with a fan can cause a sore throat. This is caused by continuous circulation and If you have pre-existing allergies. If you’re already under the weather, it can worsen your symptoms.

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3. Sore Muscles

Ever wake up with sore muscles or a stiff neck? Circulating air throughout the night may cause your muscles to tense. This is harmful if the fan is pointed close to your face and neck. If using a fan, point the fan away from you at night, so the air doesn’t blow directly on you.

4. Interrupted Sleep

Did you know that the air movement around you at night may wake you up, increasing sleep disturbances? So what you use to improve your sleep may be disturbing it.

Fans offer little benefits of keeping you cool at night, while potentially causing or increasing health issues. Instead of a fan, there are options for staying cool at night, including using our cooling mattress pad.

They are designed to help prevent you from overheating and stay comfortable and cool all night long. Typical mattresses trap your heat and reflect that heat right back towards you, making it difficult to keep cool.

However, our cooling mattress pads regulate your temperature, preventing you from overheating and sleeping hot.

Cooling Mattress Pads Features

The science is clear, we sleep deeper with increased recovery at a cooler temperature. Below are some features of our sleepme Sleep Systems and differences in how they can cool your body compared to a fan.

  • Doesn't stir up dust/pollen
  • Quiet (provides white noise capability)
  • Schedule and set bed temperatures ranging from 55-115 degrees, allowing you to cool down in the summer and stay warm in the winter
  • Cools down your body
  • Hydro-water; power to deliver deeper and restorative sleep.
  • Dual temperature zone

Final Thought

Not only can sleepme's Chilipad Cube Sleep Systems allow you to cool your mattress, but it is more effective than using a fan to cool your body. Plus, you don’t have to deal with the many downsides and side effects of sleeping with a fan on you throughout the night.

So if you want to make the switch from a fan or a bed fan and have the most comfortable and cool sleep of your life, check out our cooling sleep systems.

Citations

[1] JAMA and Archives Journals. (2006, September 20). Allergic Rhinitis Associated With Impaired Sleep Quality. ScienceDaily. View Resource

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