Many people need a fan to sleep. Scientists say this could be bad for us. This is bad news for those of us unable to sleep in the current hot weather. Sleep experts at the website Sleep Advisor say there are many reasons why the use of a fan is bad for our health. Fans cause problems for people with asthma. They cause dust and pollen to circulate around the room and add to an asthmatic's sleeplessness. Circulating air can dry out and irritate your eyes and mouth, which makes it difficult to sleep. Fans also cool the air and can make muscles tense up and cramp.
Other sleep experts disagree and say fans are not a danger to health. A specialist on the respiratory system, said: "There's nothing about a fan that's toxic. There's nothing wrong with circulating air." If a fan stops us sweating, it will help us sleep. People should keep fans at a safe distance from their bed and not have them blowing at their body. It is also a good idea to put an air filter in the bedroom to reduce the levels of dust. A fan may be better than an air conditioner, which can chill the sweat on our body and cause us to wake up with a cold.