A London scientist’s family getaway to Turkey descended into chaos after she made a seemingly harmless mistake which led to a painful diagnosis.
The blunder saw then-24-year-old Liana Foster develop alarming white patches in her throat while on holiday last year. She required urgent medical treatment via IV drip as she fought off a serious throat condition – all due to the fact that she slept with the air conditioning on all night.
Now, sleep experts have warned that running the air-con throughout the night can do more harm than good.
Liana explained: “I felt really groggy and got a sore throat as well. I was really shaky. I couldn’t eat or drink. I thought it was covid again. My temperature was bad, my body was aching.”
Medical examination revealed the scientist was suffering from a severe case of tonsillitis — a swelling of the tonsils typically triggered by viral or bacterial infections, particularly streptococcus bacteria (which also causes strep throat).
Doctors at a local hospital in Turkey informed Liana that the overnight air-conditioning was the most likely culprit behind her condition.
On the first night of her trip, Liana mentioned she kept the air conditioning running “really low in the room” and suspects she may breathe through her mouth whilst sleeping.
By the following day, white patches had appeared in her throat and she received a diagnosis of severe tonsillitis. Liana’s holiday was marred by a severe reaction to air conditioning, forcing her to undergo a rigorous treatment regime.
“I couldn’t consume oral antibiotics so I had to get injections for three days and twice a day,” she disclosed. “I believe if we didn’t sleep with the aircon on it would have been fine.
“It ruined my holiday”, Liana admits.
Medical professionals also cautioned that the system might have been spreading ‘mouldy air’, exacerbating her condition.
Sleep specialists at Bed Sava have cautioned against leaving the air-con on throughout the night, as it can be more detrimental than beneficial. The continuous flow of cold, dry air can lead to dehydration of the throat and air passages, particularly for mouth breathers during sleep.
Moreover, inadequately serviced units may circulate dust, bacteria, and mould spores, potentially aggravating the respiratory tract or amplifying pre-existing health concerns.
Temperature fluctuations from prolonged air-con use can also interfere with your sleep pattern, preventing you from entering the deeper, rejuvenating phases of slumber.
To avoid breathing in stale or harmful air, experts suggest cooling the room with air-con before bedtime, using a timer to turn it off, and regularly cleaning the filters.
Three alternative methods for a cooler night’s sleep
To prevent enduring what Liana went through, Bed Sava’s sleep gurus propose safer strategies for staying cool while asleep:
Pre-cool the bedroom
- Keep curtains or blinds shut during daylight hours to block out the warming effects of the sun.
- Keep windows closed until evening to prevent hot air from flooding in.
- Open windows at night for natural cross-ventilation once temperatures drop outside.
Cool your body directly
- Have a tepid shower before bedtime (avoid freezing water – this can have the opposite effect).
- Apply a cool, wet flannel to your wrists or neck.
- Choose breathable cotton or linen bedding that draws moisture away from skin.
Try clever bed hacks
- Use a cooling gel pillow or refrigerate pillowcases before bedtime.
- Try the “Egyptian method”: a slightly moistened sheet placed over a dry towel for gentle cooling.
- Keep a chilled water bottle beside the bed
Liana confesses her holiday was “pretty dull” after falling ill. However, her experience serves as a stark warning: air-conditioning can aid sleep – but when used incorrectly, it can jeopardise your wellbeing.
