Sleeping with a fan on is generally safe, though it can dry out your nose and throat or stir up dust and allergens.
Is it safe
Yes for most people. It also circulates air and masks noise.
Possible downsides
- Dry nose, mouth and eyes.
- Stirring up dust and allergens.
- Muscle stiffness from airflow.
- Congestion.
Tips
- Point the fan away from your face.
- Use a humidifier.
- Clean the fan.
Benefit
Studies suggest a fan may help cool you in warm weather.
SIDS
Fans may reduce SIDS risk by circulating air in a baby’s room.
Safety evidence
Sleeping with a fan on is generally safe for healthy people. A small body of research suggests that fan use may lower SIDS risk. A 2008 study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine of 185 infants who died of SIDS and 312 controls found that using a fan lowered SIDS risk by 72 percent, though it is observational.
- Fans can dry out the nose, throat and eyes, and may worsen allergies by circulating dust.
- Direct airflow for long periods may cause muscle stiffness or a sore neck in some people.
- A fan at a low setting helps white noise and cooling, supporting sleep in hot rooms. The ideal bedroom temperature is 60 to 67 F (15 to 19 C).
Tips
Point the fan to circulate air instead of blowing directly on your face, clean the blades, keep a window slightly open for fresh air and use a humidifier in dry climates. People with allergies, asthma or sinus problems should use air filters. Avoid fan use if it triggers symptoms. Do not leave fans where children can touch the blades.
Safety evidence
Studies find no solid evidence that sleeping with a fan is harmful. A fan blowing directly can dry the nose, throat and eyes, trigger allergies by moving dust and cause muscle stiffness in some people. A 2008 study in Pediatrics found fans were linked to lower SIDS risk in infants.
Tips
Aim the fan away from the face, clean blades and use a humidifier if dry.
Claimed risks
Sleeping with a fan on is widely believed to cause dry eyes, congestion, sore throat or muscle stiffness. The airflow can dry nasal passages and move dust and allergens, which may worsen allergies or asthma. Directing a fan straight at the body can tighten muscles for some people.
What the evidence says
There is no solid evidence that a fan harms healthy sleepers, and the Sleep Foundation notes it can help by cooling the room and masking noise. The Korean fan death myth is not supported by evidence. The ideal bedroom temperature is about 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 20 Celsius). To reduce risks, clean the blades, point it away from your face, use a humidifier if the air is dry, and use the low setting. In extreme heat, fans alone may not prevent heat stress in older adults.
Based on data from the Sleep Foundation and the Cleveland Clinic
