There are different advantages of sleeping under a running ceiling fan; especially if you come from warm areas where it gets unbearably hot to sleep at night. Ceiling fans help to cool the air and provide the needed breeze to enable you sleep like a baby. While we cannot deny the crucial role that these devices play, we should also be aware of the hidden side effects experienced that may negatively affect our health and the general well-being of our bodies. So, let us look at how an electric fan can affect your health.
Dust and Allergies
Ceiling fans have been known to host dust mites. The tiny animals drop their feces within the dust which in turn accumulates on the blade of the fans. This accumulation increases when the fan is not in use or if there are no efforts to clean the blades. When the fan finally starts running, these dust mites are spread throughout the room and tend to aggravate allergy symptoms. For anybody suffering from allergies or asthma, the effects can be devastating if you inhale the dusty air and your sound sleep will probably be cut short.
Stiff Neck
Experiencing a stiff neck after getting up in the morning could be caused by the running fan you slept under through the night. This is due to the fan producing a cold breeze which can cause your tensing up of your muscles as it blows over the skin. This also involves muscles on your neck which end up tensing up and even cramping. Continued tightening of the muscles will eventually result in a stiff neck when you get up the next morning.
A Dry throat, Nose, and Mouth
Sleeping under a ceiling fan will cause your mouth and throat to dry. This results from the fan driving the moisture in the air out of the sleeping area. Inhaling this dry air will lead to your mouth and nose drying up, which can be unhealthy if you fail to rehydrate as it may result in long-term teeth and gum complications. Besides, the dry air entering your nose also causes irritation of the mucous membrane and leads to sinus infections. This may cause a headache or worse a migraine come morning when you arise.
Dry Skin
If your skin is sensitive and prone to drying up quickly, having the fan on as you sleep on may not be the best decision for you. The result is that your condition will only get worse. The same is true for people
who have dry eyes, and the situation gets even dire if you sleep with your eyes open.
Overheating
Scientific study shows that ceiling fans may not be as effective as most people presume them to be. Unlike air conditioners which generate their own cool air, fans have to rely on the cooler air from outside replacing the warm air that they are driving off. This implies that they are only effective in places experiencing cool weather. It therefore leaves room for overheating which can be fatal to infants and the elderly.