WHAT'S UP DOC: Do you sleep too close to a fan? Read this...

Hey Doc, I have been told it’s not healthy to keep a fan so close to me when sleeping in bed. How unhealthy is it?

This is a question that Jasmine, a friend form Ukonga in Dar es Salaam asked me recently when she realized I have medical background.

Well, in our city, which is mostly warm, a fan is almost unavoidable, especially the ceiling fans that enable us to cool off through hot nights.

However, there are cases of people who have reported adverse health effects, especially when they placed the fan too close to themselves while sleeping or when the fan was not clean enough.

While fans are beneficial in many ways; such as giving you relief from heat and improving your quality of sleep, there are certain things to worry about. Take a scenario where you wake up in the morning, only to realise that you have sore muscles.

This should be the reason to avoid having the fan too close while sleeping. Medical sources say this stiffness or soreness of the muscles could be attributed to the concentration of cool air on a specific part of the body. This may case the muscles to be tease and this often leads to cramping.

This problem has been reported among people who tend to sleep with a fan too close to their face. They reported waking up in the morning with a stiff neck. But, the air itself could go ahead to affect you on the outside. Skin problems If you have a dry skin, watch out!

The constant blast of air from the fan could trigger skin reaction. Certain people have reported acne breakout. And, for those with a sensitive skin, using moisturizers or lotions can help. Dust from fans Fans usually collect dust and dust mites. You may not notice this but if you look so closely on the blades, you will see what I mean. So, you need to clean the fans more often.

If they are not cleaned enough, they can pose a health risk for people who suffer from allergies. When in use through the night, the fan can dispose and circulate the harmful particles around the room. Dust mites are often known for triggering allergy.

Generally, fans are safe to use. People who wake up with dry skin, allergic reactions, or sore muscles are advised to look into alternatives. They can consider making changes in how they use the fans and how often they clean it.

Alternatives for dealing with heat at night could be by wearing lighter clothing, keeping enough water by your bedside, or taking a shower before sleeping.

Stay safe, make informed health choices