Doctors Say Fans at Night May Harm Missouri Sleepers

This is one of those cases where the advice may be sound and have a scientific reason behind it, but it doesn't sound right to me. There are many experts including some doctors apparently that say Missouri residents should not sleep with the fan on and they have some explaining to do.

I'll begin by emphasizing that I am an expert in nothing, but I do have plenty of opinions and it's my opinion that this sleep advice might be true, but there are also instances when common sense should win the day. Multiple experts including Tom's Guide and Health Line say you should not sleep with a fan on.

Why the so-called experts think you should not sleep with the fan on

• A ceiling fan running while you're sleeping can dry out your eyes, nose and throat
• It can make you wake up with stiff muscles
• Your body can become too cool causing you to lose sleep

The one reason why you should absolutely sleep with your fan on

I'm no expert, but I think it needs to be said that you absolutely should sleep with a fan on especially if you're air conditioner is struggling to do the job in extreme heat. You're much better off taking a chance that your allergies will kick in with a fan on than trying to sleep if the place you live in is hot. That seems like common sense to me, but in the world we live in you can't assume that common sense will win the day.

I do appreciate that there are "experts" in the world looking out for us, but I do think that they should be clear that there are exceptions to their "rules". With dangerous temperatures and even extreme heat advisories in many parts of Missouri for the next few days, your fan may be your sleeping buddy.