What happens to you when you sleep in front of a fan?

Arab Weather - Although there are studies indicating the health benefits of using a fan to improve the atmosphere during the summer, there are also warnings about its negative effects, especially with the drop in temperatures at night in the fall.

One such study, published in China in 2022, looked at how to optimize fan use to avoid harm and benefit from it. The study focused on adjusting the fan speed according to the different sleep stages, which are divided into five stages in which body temperature changes. Based on these stages, the fan speed can be adjusted to match the body’s biological clock, which contributed to improving sleep efficiency and increasing the percentage of deep sleep by 3.59%.

On the other hand, the World Health Organization recommends not to operate the fan in very high temperatures, as it can lead to health problems, especially for the elderly. Operating the fan in an atmosphere between 25 and 38 degrees Celsius is allowed for healthy people, but caution should be exercised if the temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius, especially in the rooms of the elderly or those taking anticholinergic medications.

Tips for using your fan effectively and safely

To benefit from the fan and avoid its harmful effects, experts advise following some preventive measures:

1. Maintain sufficient distance: It is preferable to stay between one and a quarter to two meters away from the fan to avoid direct exposure to the air.
2. Clean the fan regularly: It is necessary to clean the fan regularly to remove dust and allergens that may accumulate on it.
3. Choose high-quality fans: It is recommended to use fans with low or almost no noise to avoid disturbance.
4. Do not direct air directly to the body: It is preferable to use fans that provide the feature of distributing air in an oscillating manner and not focusing it on a specific area of the body.
5. Use the fan timer: The fan timer can be set to automatically turn off after you go to sleep, especially on nights when temperatures drop.
6. Clean your home regularly: To maintain indoor air quality, your home should be cleaned regularly to remove biological and inorganic pollutants that may exacerbate health problems.

See also:

Can't sleep without the sound of a fan? Discover the secret of "white noise" and is it safe?

How does the change of seasons affect the quality and hours of our sleep?