As temperatures soar across the UK, many people may be digging around their attics to pull out their trusty electric fan.
While the popular appliance is many people's go-to device to help them cool down, it may do more harm than good, according to experts. Martin Seeley, the CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay, has issued a warning to Brits while urging them to turn off their electric fans at night.
While the electric fan can be a cost-effective tool to help you cool down when compared to other devices such as an air conditioner, there are some downsides. This can include triggering illnesses and causing other painful symptoms across different parts of the body.
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The downsides to using an electric fan all night
Allergens and asthma
Because an electric fan circulates air around the room, it can pick up dust mites, spores, pollen, and other allergens. If you're susceptible to hay fever or other allergies linked to these, using an electric fan could worsen your symptoms.
Mr Seeley advises brushing off any dust on the blades of your electric fan before switching it on. Otherwise, you can invest in a fan that can purify the air by reducing the pollen particles and dust mites in the room.
Deep cleaning your bedroom regularly will also help alleviate allergies.
Congestion
Using an electric fan throughout the day can lead to the air feeling dry due to the excess wind. Over time, this can dry out your nose and throat resulting in your body producing more mucus in order to stay hydrated.
In order to stop this from happening, you should try and drink at least two litres of water throughout the day.
Dry eyes and irritation
Due to the dry air created by an electric fan, your eyes can become dry and irritated. This is especially true for people who wear contact lenses.
An alternative to this issue could be opting for a rotating electric heater which circulets the air more.
Stiff neck and muscle aches
People with pre-existing muscle pains should avoid exposing the area to an electric fan at night. This is because concentrated cool air can result in muscles tensing and cramping up, leading to more pain.
Better ways of tackling the heat at night
Put your pillowcase or hot water bottle in the freezer before your bedtime
Filling your hot water bottle with cold water and placing it in the freezer an hour before going to bed. If you don’t own a hot water bottle you can place a pillowcase in the freezer for 15 minutes before going to bed for some cool relief.
Run your wrists under cold water when you brush your teeth
Placing your wrists under cold water for a few minutes before bedtime will rapidly cool down your body.
Keep your bedroom’s blinds and curtains shut all-day
The sun is the main source of heat throughout the day so ensure you keep your blinds and curtains shut throughout the day, to prevent the sun from coming in. This should keep your bedroom cooler at night-time when it’s time to fall asleep.
Expose yourself to as much daylight as possible throughout the day
However, whilst you should keep your bedroom away from the light, you should personally try and spend as much time outside throughout the day. This is because light plays the most integral role in regulating your body’s internal clock, as it signals to your brain when to be alert and when to rest.
Throughout the day, you should expose yourself to as much light as possible to bring on the feeling of alertness, however, as the day goes on, you should close your curtains to block out the light nights and instead use ambient lamps. By the time you get to bed, your bedroom should be virtually black, so your brain knows that it’s bedtime. If your blind or curtain situation doesn’t allow this, keep an eye mask near your bed to block the light out.
Make sure to drink at least two litres of water throughout the day
Not only does keeping hydrated boost your energy but your metabolism too. Even mild dehydration can leave you sleepy and tired, negatively disrupting your mood.
Switch your duvet cover to a lighter-coloured one
If your duvet is a lighter colour and lighter material it can help regulate your body temperature while you sweat at night. You should also wash your bedding once a week in spring and summer to get rid of any bacteria that's built up from prolonged sweating.
Move your bed to this secret spot which encourages the highest quality of sleep
If you’re struggling to sleep, you should also consider moving your bed to the best position for sleep, as this can improve your sleep quality beyond the heatwave. Placing your bed against the longest wall allows you to fall asleep faster as when it’s alternatively placed near a door or window, you can be kept away from sounds and shadows, which are likely to happen during the hotter periods of the year as people make the most of the weather.
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