It's that time again, folks. We need to start thinking about venturing into the attic, reaching on top of the wardrobe or crawling under the bed for the trusty ol' fan. Because sticking one leg out from under the duvet and hoping for the best just won't cut it.
Chances are, though, the fan hasn't been out since last summer and it's a bit dusty. Nothing a quick wipe won't sort out, right?
Wrong, apparently. In fact, sleeping with artificial wind blasting in your face is actually pretty bad for you - regardless of the satisfactory sleep you might be giving up.
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According to The Sleep Advisor, as a fan moves air around the room, it causes flurries of dust and pollen to make their way into your sinuses - up yer nose, in other words.
Therefore, if you're prone to asthma, hay fever or general allergies, that lovely bit of light air could be doing you more damage than you think.
Equally, if your fan has been collecting dust then those particles could be flying your way every single time you turn it on. Mmmm, nice.
Another thing that is considered a potential drawback to having cool air blasted in your direction is the dry skin it can cause.
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*Reaches for the cocoa butter*
You could be over-drying your skin by using a fan on your body for excessive amounts of time.
And if you sleep with your eyes partially open (nope, me neither - but it's a thing) you could also be at a disadvantage because your eyes will obviously be completely dried out, which could cause irritation. Don't even get me started on sleeping with your mouth wide open.
And then there's sinus irritation - the constant stream of air can dry out your sinuses. If it's particularly extreme it can result in your body producing excess mucus to try and compensate (sorry about the TMI).
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This means you would be susceptible to blockage, stuffiness and headaches.
Something that might not seem as obvious is muscle pain. If you're waking up with stiff or sore muscles you might want to look at your little mate on the bedside table.
This is because the concentrated cool air can make muscles tense up and cramp. This problem is especially common for people who sleep with it near their face and neck.
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Of course, there are plenty of reasons why you might be happy sleeping with the fan - not only does it control the temperature, stop the bed covers sticking to your body and prevent you from waking up every few minutes, it can also act as a bit of white noise to help you drift off.
But still, it's worth bearing the above in mind.
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