Britons have been enjoying an early taste of summer as sunshine has been shining on the UK.

However, since only about 5% of households in the UK have air conditioning, individuals are turning to buying fans, freezing their pillowcases, or drinking ice-cold water to stay cool.

Even while a bedside fan could seem like a godsend, one medical professional has warned of the unspoken health hazards associated with using an electric fan while you sleep.

Using a fan all night can ’cause hidden stress on the body’, according to Dr. Naheed Ali, a PhD health specialist who spoke with LADbible. However, fans can assist cool the skin by accelerating perspiration evaporation.

According to the senior contributor at Vera Clinic, the continuous airflow can cause your throat and sinuses to get dry, which can leave you feeling dehydrated and experiencing that dry throat feeling the following morning.

“A dry airway produces thicker mucus, which can trap allergens and irritants close to sensitive tissue,” said Dr. Ali. “Over time, this may trigger coughing, a scratchy voice, or clogged sinuses that linger through the day.”

Running a fan overnight can’stir up’ dust and cause tightness in the chest for people who have asthma or allergies, the doctor added.

“Continuous airflow also stirs up dust from bedding and flooring. Tiny particles of lint, dander, and pollen stay in motion and may reach deeper into the airways while you sleep,” Dr. Ali described. “People with asthma or mild allergies often wake with extra chest tightness or sneezing after a night with the fan on.”

Muscle stiffness can also be caused by sleeping in a continuous stream of chilly air.

Dr. Ali pointed out that muscles may constrict as a defensive reaction if tissue temperature drops. People who leave their fans running all night are therefore likely to wake up the next morning with stiff shoulders and necks.

“The chilled muscles tighten as a natural defence, and that tension may persist until a warm shower or gentle stretching restores normal blood flow,” he stated.

Dr. Ali offers some advice, nevertheless, if you can’t live without a bedroom fan for your summertime sleeping patterns.

Setting the fan on a timer to operate until the first 90-minute sleep cycle, after which it will automatically shut off, is the first step. The doctor also suggested avoiding putting the fan directly in front of you. Keep a glass of water handy to quench a dry mouth or throat, and aim it at a wall to keep the air flowing more gently.

Lastly, to reduce dust and pollen, Dr. Ali suggests changing your bedroom air filters on a regular basis and washing your bedding once a week.

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