Despite the fact that opening windows helps with air circulation, experts still advise against opening windows while sleeping at night. This is related to health safety.
Why should you not open windows when sleeping at night?
Many people have the habit of opening windows when sleeping because fresh air from outside makes them feel cool and comfortable. Especially in rural areas or quiet places with few cars passing by, outdoor air rushing in helps people fall into a deep sleep.
However, health experts advise against opening windows when sleeping at night because it can have negative effects on the body. Cold air itself does not cause discomfort, the flu – a disease caused by microorganisms attacking the body, overpowering the human immune system – but it can dry out the nasal passages, leading to increased mucus production and resulting in sinus and throat infections.
Why should you not open windows when sleeping at night? Because this habit can have negative effects on your health. (Photo: CTV Edmonton)
On the other hand, in large cities and along busy streets with heavy traffic, opening windows will reduce the air quality indoors. In addition, the noise of car horns, barking dogs, and the yelling of “night owls” will also affect your sleep.
Here are specific reasons why you should not open windows when sleeping at night:
Close the door to reduce noise
If you live in a noisy environment and have trouble sleeping, it is better to close the windows when going to bed. A quiet space is an ideal place for you to sleep soundly and peacefully. Opening windows will amplify noise, which can disturb sleep and have long-term effects on your health.
Avoid sleep loss due to cold
If you open the windows when sleeping, you may not sleep well because of the cold. Especially if you are suffering from a cold and leave the windows open on autumn/winter nights, it may take you longer to recover from the flu. When you are cold and your body is busy keeping warm, it is less effective in fighting off the disease.
Avoid allergy risks
Opening windows at night puts you at risk of coming into contact with allergens from the outside and easy inhalation of them while sleeping,
Dr. Laren Tan, a lung specialist, Director of the comprehensive program on obstructive lung disease at Loma Linda University (USA), explained: “Pollens levels are usually high during the day when plants release pollen into the air, however there is evidence showing that pollen concentration in the air can also be higher in the evening.”
In particular, in spring and autumn, allergens, dust, and particles (such as dust particles in polluted air or particles from wildfires) fly in, causing allergies and asthma. “Allergies and asthma can make the body produce more mucus, causing difficulty breathing and more coughing,” Dr. Tan said.
Allergies and asthma also disrupt sleep, weaken the immune system, and make you susceptible to other unrelated diseases. That is why you should not open windows when sleeping at night, especially for people with allergic predispositions.
It is better to ventilate the room during the day, dust, and clean the house.
Avoid mold development
Depending on the temperature outside and inside, opening the windows at night can also increase the risk of mold, especially when the temperature outside drops significantly at night and the bedroom cools down during this time.
Therefore, you should not open the windows when going to bed at night and only open them wide in the morning so that the air in the room is conditioned.
Whether you close or open windows at night, you should ventilate all rooms 3-5 times a day, each time for about 10 minutes (if it’s cold outside, 5 minutes is enough). To cool the air in the room once again and improve sleep quality, you should ventilate right before going to bed.
In addition to regular ventilation, you can improve air quality by turning off electrical appliances, heaters, and air conditioning at night. Your electricity bill will also be reduced from this habit.
If the room humidity is too high due to excessive sweating at night, you can place a dehumidifier in the bedroom. If you have difficulty sleeping due to dry air, hang a few damp towels near your bed. Dry air often causes nasal congestion, difficulty sleeping, or waking up multiple times at night.
Source: VTC news
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