Correct way to sleep with a fan on during heatwave as doctors warn over hidden impact

It is very hot outside - as I'm sure you're aware - and the only way to make it through the night is to use that half broken fan that sits idle for 90 percent of the year.

You've got highs of 26.9C in Heathrow, as temperatures are expected to reach 33C in southern England and the Midlands over the Bank Holiday weekend.

But with it being the hottest day of the year (so far), a fan is a must when you're trying to get to sleep.

It just so turns out there's a right and wrong way of using your cooling machine and having it on full whack isn't recommended.

"Cool air against muscles and joints for seven or eight hours can cause a subtle drop in tissue temperature. Stiff necks and aching shoulders on waking are common signs," Dr. Naheed Ali, MD, PhD told LADbible.

The problem with keeping the fan on all night

Sometimes a fan feels like the only relief from the scorching weather (Getty Stock Images)

The physician and senior contributor at Vera Clinic said 'running a bedroom fan all night can create hidden stress on the body'.

"The fan cools the skin by speeding up evaporation, and that steady airflow can leave the nasal passages and throat uncomfortably dry by morning," he explained.

"A dry airway produces thicker mucus, which can trap allergens and irritants close to sensitive tissue. Over time, this may trigger coughing, a scratchy voice, or clogged sinuses that linger through the day.

"The chilled muscles tighten as a natural defence, and that tension may persist until a warm shower or gentle stretching restores normal blood flow."

What if you need the fan on?

It's always worth having a glass of water by your bedside to keep hydrated (Getty Stock Images)

If the heat is so unbearable that you must keep the fan on all night, Dr Anis Khalaf explained on his YouTube channel that 'if you love sleeping with a fan on, this is how to sleep with a fan on the right way'.

"This is the secret. You can have many fans on in the room," Dr Khalaf said.

"The key is to not have any of the wind blowing on you. So try facing it away from your body, and the air will still circulate around the room."

Dr Ali also suggested: "If a fan is the only way to keep the room comfortable, place it on a timer that shuts off after the first sleep cycle of ninety minutes.

"Direct the airflow toward an opposite wall rather than straight at the bed, and keep a glass of water at the bedside to sip if the mouth feels dry."