Struggling to Sleep Each Summer in Illinois? Your Fan Might Be the Problem

Do you think sleeping with a fan is the key to a good night's sleep? It may be doing more harm than good.

Ways To Stay Cool While Sleeping

I have officially entered the point of my life where sleeping at night has become an issue, and the heat and humidity of summer in Illinois is not helping.

I can be dog-tired right before bedtime, but the minute I lay my head on the pillow my brain seems to think it's party time.

Making my sleep issues even more fun is that I can never find a way to stay cool in bed, especially during the summer.

I've tried summer pajamas during the winter, I've tried lighter blankets, sleep masks, and sleep meds. I've even tried what most other people swear by: sleeping with a fan on. Nothing works and I'm tired.

Is Sleeping With a Fan On Bad For Your Health?

During my endless search to find something to help me sleep aside from knocking myself unconscious, I came across an interesting article from sleepme that said:

Sleeping with a fan on throughout the night is a common practice for many people, especially during hot seasons or in areas with high temperatures. However, this seemingly harmless way of staying cool can pose several health risks that only some know.

Health risks? I need to know more.

Health Risks of Sleeping With a Fan On

Whenever I sleep with our bedroom ceiling fan on I do notice that I feel more congested when I wake up, so it's no surprise that is one of the biggest issues sleeping with fans on create due to the amount of dust and allergens they tend to collect and then release.

Here are some other health issues fans can cause:

• Sinus irritation - Cool air from a fan can dry out your nose and throat which triggers your sinuses to create more mucus.
• Stiff and Sore Muscles - According to sleepme: "When a fan circulates air continuously throughout the night, it can lead to muscle tension, especially in areas exposed directly to the air flow." If the fan is positioned close to your head and neck you're really asking for trouble.
• Dry Skin and Eyes - A continuous breeze can quickly dry out your skin and eyes by increasing how fast moisture evaporates from them.
• Sleep Disruption - Many people need the constant hum of a fan to help them sleep, but extremely light sleepers can suffer major sleep disruptions because of it.

If turning off the fan at night is a non-negotiable for you, make sure you run a humidifier at the same time to help curb some of the negative health risks.

Here are some more things to try to get better sleep: