Doctors Say to Turn Fans Off in Your House at Night

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - It is warming up in the Deep South, and we're all looking for ways to stay cool.

Personally, when I'm ready for bed, I often lower the temperature in the bedroom and turn the ceiling fan to its highest setting. Well, maybe that explains why I am currently battling my first "summer cold."

For many, the last thing you do before going to sleep is turn the ceiling fan on at night, and some even add a secondary fan to the room.

Now, doctors are advising that we should turn the fans off at night. The constant airflow in the room can trigger allergies and stir up dust, potentially leading to sinus infections.

Additionally, medical professionals note that the constant airflow in your bedroom at night may contribute to sore muscles in the morning. Cool air against your muscles and joints for several hours can cause a subtle drop in tissue temperature, which can cause stiffness and aches.

Additionally, with so many dust particles being stirred up in the room, this may also lead to chest congestion, which may result in morning discomfort.

So, if you find yourself sore in the morning or sneezing more in the summer, it may not be what's outdoors, but rather what is being stirred up in your bedroom at night. Therefore, maybe it's time for you and me to turn the fan off at night and see if it makes a difference.

Battling allergies and sinus infections has always been an issue for me in the summer, and perhaps it's the fan I've been sleeping with in the on position that's causing much of the discomfort.

With all of that said, some of you are probably willing to risk still being sick if it means staying cool at night, and I get it. But perhaps we can take "baby steps" and redirect the airflow in your room so that it's not constantly blowing directly on you while you're asleep.

Does A Ceiling Fan Cool A Room?

Unlike an air conditioner, ceiling fans do not drop the temperature in a room. Fans create a "wind chill effect" on your skin, making you feel cooler. Ceiling fans are designed to cool people down, not rooms.

What Direction Should Ceiling Fans Turn During Summer?

During the summer months, you want your ceiling fans to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. This direction pushes air downward, creating a wind chill effect that can make you feel cooler.