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Many Scots will be finding it more difficult than ever to get to sleep at the moment thanks to the current heatwave.
Homes in the UK tend to be built to retain heat rather than keep it out, which means hours of uncomfortable tossing and turning on hot nights whilst trying to drift off.
Having an electric fan on overnight may seem like a good solution to this problem, but experts have strongly advised against doing this, as it can actually cause a number of different health problems.
CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay, Martin Sealy, is urging people to switch off their fans at night, claiming that keeping them on can often do more harm than good.
He's also offered some alternatives for people struggling to sleep in the heat that are more effective and won't run up your energy bills.
Naturally, when an electric fan is on it circulates the air around the room, however, what many people aren’t aware of is that it also circulates dust mites, spores, pollen, and other allergens.
So, if you find that you’re suffering from excessive sneezing, watery eyes, a runny nose, itchy throats and even breathing difficulties, make sure that there is no dust on the blades of your electric fan.
If you have the budget, it is worth upgrading to a better fan that can purify the air by reducing the pollen particles and dust mites throughout the room. However, if this isn’t possible, regularly deep cleaning your bedroom will help alleviate your allergies.
If you’ve ever had an electric fan on all day, you’ll be aware of how dry the air feels due to the excess wind. Naturally, over time this can dry out your nose and throat which results in your body needing to produce more mucus to stay hydrated.
However, this can create many side effects, including a headache, stuffy nose and even a sinus headache. To stop this from happening, you should ensure that you drink at least two litres of water throughout the day.
If you find that this is happening, you should make sure to drink at least two litres of water throughout the day. This is also recommended for those that have suffered from a poor night’s sleep due to the heat, as even mild dehydration can cause you to feel even more drowsy and tired.
(Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)
Dry air can also cause dry eyes, which can lead to irritation. This is even more important for those that wear contact lenses due to them increasing your likelihood of dryness and irritations.
You can, however, get around this if you purchase a rotating electric heater as it circulates the air more.
If you have any pre-existing muscle pains, perhaps from working out or from improper posture whilst working at a desk, you should refrain from directing the electric fan on this area throughout the night.
This is because the concentrated cool air can make your muscles tense and cramp up, causing you even more pain. You may even notice that you’ve gained a stiff neck since using an electric fan so refrain from using it for a few nights to see if you spot a difference.
Instead of running the electric fan all night long, Martin has suggested some more cost-effective ways to beat the heat.
These include:
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With much of England set to sizzle in highs of up to 90F today, many will be turning to their electrics fans in a desperate bid to cool down come bedtime.
But while fans are an ideal way to stay cool for short periods of time, keeping them on all night may have several negative impacts on your health, according to Sleep Advisor reports.
And it's not good news for those who suffer with allergies or asthma because dozing off with a fan on could end up circulating not just air - but pollen and dust as well.
The Sleep Advisor says: 'Take a close look at your fan. If it's been collecting dust on the blades, those particles are flying through the air every time you turn it on.'
Keeping electric fans on all night may have several negative impacts on your health, according to Sleep Advisor reports. Pictured, stock image
Leaving a fan on all night can also have bad consequences for your skin - leaving it feeling and looking dry.
The constant airstream can also have the same affect on your eyes and mouth - especially those who sleep with them partially open.
Sleep Advisor also warned the cool air could result in you waking up in the morning feeling stiff - particularly those who position the fan on their neck and face.
'This is because the concentrated cool air can make muscles tense up and cramp,' the experts explained.
Britain is set to face yet another scorching day, with an extreme weather warning for 90F temperatures today after thunderstorms swept across the country and brought two inches of rain on the hottest day of the year so far.
The Met Office says mercury is expected to push 86F across southern England and 77F in Belfast, with temperatures forecast to be cooler in the east.
People enjoy the weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday on the hottest day of the year so far
Sun-seekers are warned to beware of sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration, nausea, fatigue 'and other heat-related illnesses'.
It comes as England reached its hottest temperature of the year on Tuesday - 89.96F - recorded at Heathrow Airport in west London.
The previous high for the year was 88.88F, which was also recorded at Heathrow on Sunday.
An amber extreme heat warning remains in place for central and southern England, Wales and Northern Ireland.