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Ceiling fans are a necessary luxury in many homes. Particularly in climates that are hot and humid, they help to enhance comfort by making the rooms cool when it is too hot outside.
They can also make bedrooms less stuffy in the winter when the heater is running.
But can ceiling fans cause sinus problems? Although ceiling fans boast numerous benefits like helping with humidity and reducing your utility bill, some people suffer mild sinus problems that ceiling fans can exacerbate.
Here we’ll examine the evidence to conclude if ceiling fans actually cause sinus problems.
How can ceiling fans cause sinus problems?
Ceiling fans can cause dehydration
When using the fans together with air conditioning, there is a probability that it removes some moisture from the air. For some people, this can cause the skin as well as exposed membranes to dehydrate.
Some individuals also claim that their nostrils can get a little dry where at times they may even bleed because of the dryness. It is something that would bring about sinus complications where a person may even have difficulty breathing.
Note that it does not happen to everyone, but some adults and children are susceptible to temperatures and air blowing across their heads.
Home to dust mites
It is quite unfortunate that ceiling fans make the perfect breeding grounds for dust mites. It applies in particular when a person does not clean them regularly.
When they host dust mites and dust, the bugs drop feces within the dust something that can aggravate allergy symptoms which can also cause sinus complications to explode.
Dust can accumulate on the devices whether you are using it or not. When you finally switch it on, it can spread the dust and the dust mites fast within your room onto other surfaces like beddings and carpets. Staying in the same space can be dangerous, especially if you are allergic to dust.
Stuffy nose
A stuffy nose can also cause someone to have issues with their sinuses. Sleeping with a ceiling fan on especially when it is not on a low setting can make one develop a cold.
It can lead your nasal passage to become engorged with lots of blood. Blowing your nose will not relieve the engorgement. You may have to see a professional doctor who will give you a suitable remedy. Other ways you can block your nose when sleeping with the fan on include:
- The fan creates high air flow in the room this dries out mucosa (mucous membrane) that lines the nasal passage. The passage attempts to counter this by secreting mucus,which can make the nose to become stuffy or runny.
- When dust particles arise from the device, and they float around the home. You can easily inhale the particles which make the stuffy nose even worse.
If you find that your sinus problems come out or become worse when you use a ceiling fan in your room, it is best to avoid it at all costs. You can opt for the air conditioning alone which can serve the same purpose as the fan more healthily and safely.
Final thoughts
So can ceiling fans cause sinus problems? The answer to that question is yes, sleeping in a room with a ceiling fan can cause your mucus membranes to dry out. You can combat this issue by using a dehumidifier in the same room to ensure proper moisture levels.
Ready to invest in a ceiling fan?
While ceiling fans can exacerbate sinus problems, they also make your home more comfortable while saving money. If you’re in the market for one, read our reviews of the best ceiling fans on the market right now.
And when it comes time to install it, check out our guide to how to install a ceiling fan (as well as how to repair a ceiling fan, just in case). And you might be wondering, are ceiling fans are not out of style?
We believe the answer to that question is no, because feeling comfortable and cool never goes out of style!
Read more about ceiling fans
Make sure you’re making an informed decision before you install a ceiling fan in your home. If you have a baby in your home, read about whether or not ceiling fans are safe for babies.
You may also be wondering if ceiling fans can reduce radon levels in your home.
I have Sinus but since i started using Ceiling Fan it worse i sneeze almost everyday and blow my nose. My nasal are very dry. I can not stop using it because my bedroom is very hot. What can i do?
Hi!
Thanks for visiting! Sinusitis is usually aggravated by dust. Do you clean your ceiling fan regularly? I suggest doing so at least once a week.
Standing fan
Hi , I have had and experienced bacterial sinusitis since my childhood. Now living in Australia, my colleague at work uses fan even in winter time that makes me feel cold and my sinus congested all the time. I keep saying to them fan is making my condition worse but they don’t believe me. How can I convince them?
Thank you.
Mathilde
Which cause more problem for people having sinus – A.C. or Fan? I suffer a lot from sinus and allergy. When I feel sinus pain should I use fan or A.C.?
This was very helpful. All my life I had sinus/allergy symptoms at night could not figure out until someone mentioned the fan and then I read your article. Now I keep fan on during day, at night I keep it low and I clean it weekly and symptoms are better. Thanks for the article
We bought a new house in April and now have a ceiling fan in our master bedroom. My husband has to sleep with a have on. At the old house, we used a osicilating fan and it never bothered me. Since we moved in, I wake up congested everyday and I’ve had 2 sinus infections. The fan is clean so I don’t think it’s dust.
I am a patient of Sinusitis for over 2 decades. I am now okay mostly. However when I sit under a ceiling fan or in front of a pedestal fan, Sinus headache sets in immediately. However fresh and energetic in the morning, if I sit under fan for 5 minutes my whole day is gone. I am struggling to find solutions. in Allopathy there are drugs only for anti-histamin or anti-infection (antibiotics) or pain killers but not for total remedy. Tried Ayurvedha and homeopathy but no solution yet. I understand my mucus membrane in sinuses (particularly at eyebrow points and fore head responds to the fan air), and it starts with drowsiness (can not keep my eyes open for more than 3-5 minutes). How can I get rid of this problem? Please guide me. I need a medicine that would provide me total immunity..
You should try nebuliser with only saline solution on daily basis before sleep to ease the irritation and dehydration.