Is it better to sleep with the window open or with the air conditioner on when it's hot? The doctor's answer is surprising

In the hot summer nights, the temperature is so high that people can't sleep. The older generation usually believes that it is better to sleep with the windows open at night in the summer, which is healthier than sleeping with the air conditioner on all the time. However, young people are more concerned about coolness and prefer to sleep with the air conditioner on all night.

Is it better to sleep with the window open or with the air conditioner on at night in summer? Should the air conditioner be turned on all the time when sleeping at night?

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Is it better to sleep with the window open or with the air conditioner on?

In an air-conditioned room, the temperature and humidity can be adjusted and controlled. However, if the windows are open, the temperature and humidity cannot be controlled, especially if you live in a room in a high-rise building. If there is strong convection weather at night, it is very dangerous to sleep with the windows open. Therefore, it is recommended to turn on the air conditioner to sleep. The most suitable temperature is 22℃～26℃.

Some people would say: After turning on the air conditioner, cold and moisture will enter the body through the open pores, so the air conditioner should not be turned on! But in fact, the so-called "air conditioning disease" is actually caused by improper use of air conditioning. When the temperature is too high, especially when it exceeds the normal adaptation of the human body, the air conditioner should be turned off in a timely and decisive manner, especially for the elderly and people with underlying diseases.

Is a fan healthier than air conditioning?

In addition, some people prefer to use fans, thinking that fans are healthier than air conditioners. Is this really the case?

Air conditioning works best when the weather is extremely hot, especially when the air humidity is high. The cooling mechanism that removes heat by evaporating sweat fails, and you may even feel that the fan is blowing out hot air. At this time, the advantages of air conditioning are more obvious.

Air conditioning not only allows air to flow, but also lowers the room temperature and dehumidifies, creating a comfortable perceived temperature from the three aspects of wind speed, room temperature, and humidity, bringing a better subjective experience.

Moreover, an unreasonable way of using the fan will disturb the micro-environment of the room, affecting the depth of sleep, reducing the quality of sleep, and causing fatigue and drowsiness after waking up.

In addition, long-term use of fans may also increase the burden on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Fans speed up air flow and use water evaporation to remove heat and lower the temperature, which may lead to loss of body fluids. If water is not replenished in time, blood viscosity will increase, which will increase the risk of worsening of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

As long as the air conditioner is set to moderate temperature, wind speed and humidity, there is no taboo against using the air conditioner. This is also the reason why many hospitals are equipped with central air conditioners.

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Turn on the air conditioner when sleeping at night

Comfortable and energy-saving!

How high should the air conditioner be set in the summer? How to use the air conditioner in the most energy-efficient and comfortable way?

Huang Rong, director of the Institute of Resources and Environment of the Hubei Institute of Standardization and Quality, suggested in an interview with Jimu News in 2023 that the air conditioner temperature should be set at 26°C during the day in summer and 28°C at night, which is not only energy-saving and environmentally friendly, but also comfortable.

Because the temperature at night has three different cooling sensations:

(1) From 10pm to 12am, the human body temperature is relatively high during the activity phase, so setting the air conditioner to 26°C is very comfortable.

(2) At 2 to 3 a.m., the body has entered a sleeping state and the body temperature will drop a little. At this time, if you turn on 26°C, you will feel cold.

(3) We feel very cold between 4am and 6am, so setting the air conditioner at 26℃ is not suitable for sleeping.

Therefore, setting the air conditioner to 28℃ when sleeping at night is the most comfortable and energy-saving!

Turn on the air conditioner to sleep at night.

Remember to do these 5 things!

Here are some tips for using air conditioners in summer:

1

Set the air conditioner to sleep mode at night

When you go to sleep, you can set the air conditioner to sleep mode. Sleep mode will gradually increase the temperature during sleep, which can not only prevent the body from catching a cold while sleeping, but also save energy.

Based on the commonly used setting of 6 hours, the temperature can be raised by about 3°C ​​overnight; combined with a timed shutdown, for example, if you get up at 6 a.m., you can shut down the machine at around 5 a.m. This not only utilizes the residual heat in the room to keep it cool, but also saves a lot of electricity expenses.

2

The air outlet of the air conditioner should be directed upwards as much as possible.

When using the air conditioner for cooling, it is best to adjust the air conditioner to face upwards, so that the cold air circulates from top to bottom. As mentioned earlier, cold air generally flows downwards and hot air flows upwards. In this way, the physical properties of hot and cold air can be used to achieve a uniform and comfortable room temperature.

3

Use dehumidification mode more often in hot and humid weather

Sometimes when the weather is hot and stuffy, you should make good use of the "dehumidification" function of the air conditioner. This function mode can not only reduce the indoor humidity, but also save electricity. In this way, you don't need to adjust the air conditioner temperature, and you will feel comfortable and cool.

4

Place a basin of water in front of the air outlet of the air conditioner

Air conditioning will draw moisture from the room, making the air dry. Especially in the relatively dry north, people who stay in air-conditioned rooms for a long time will easily have their mouths, noses, and eyes become dry and sore. You may want to put a basin of water at the air outlet of the air conditioner to effectively relieve dry eye symptoms.

5

Open windows for ventilation every day

Opening windows for ventilation for more than half an hour every morning and evening can help keep the indoor air fresh, replenish oxygen, and expel carbon dioxide and other harmful substances.

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Source: Health Times (id: jksb2013)

Review | Tang Qin, Chief Researcher, Science Popularization Department, Chinese Medical Association

Editor: Yang Yaping

Proofread by Xu Lai and Lin Lin