Is Sleeping With The Windows Open Bad For You?
Short answer
Unless you are allergic to something from the outside, sleeping with the windows open is good for you, as it allows natural air to circulate in your room.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Sleeping with the windows open can be quite good for you, provided you don't have any allergies that could be made worse by leaving them open. For people who have allergies to things frequently found in the outdoor air, such as pollen, leaving the windows open during sleep could agitate these allergies. Another point to consider is that around 3 a.m. both the outside temperature and one's body temperature dip to their lowest points. This can cause muscles in the head and neck to tense up, leading one to wake up with a headache or feeling fatigued.
While the effect of the cold on the body is a concern, it is easily remedied by using a blanket. For people without outdoor allergies, keeping the window open - or at least slightly cracked - is a good idea. For one, it reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in homes that use gas for heating. Carbon monoxide needs a way to escape to the outside, but sometimes people do not have enough ventilation for it to dissipate - especially when sleeping.
Another benefit of sleeping with the windows open is that it allows fresh, humid air to circulate into the room. Sleeping with the window closed can create a situation in which you spend your time sleeping in a room that is insulated and without humidity, which can lead to dehydration.
Furthermore, fresh air has been shown by various studies to actually improve many different aspects of your health including digestion, blood pressure, heart rate, immunity, and energy. Some have even correlated fresh air with happiness.
Choosing whether or not to sleep with the windows open depends largely on your personal situation. If you are allergic to things from outside or live in a polluted area, keep the windows closed. If you are using gas to heat your home or simply want to reap the benefits of fresh air, keep the open.
Possible short-term side effects
- allergy attack
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headache
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muscle tension in head and neck
Benefits
- fresh air promotes:
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lower risk of carbon monoxide poisoning
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lower risk of dehydration
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healthy digestion
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healthy blood pressure
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healthy heart rate
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immunity
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increased energy
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happiness
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Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 02-05-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 02-05-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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