\u201cAlthough it may seem odd, when it is very hot and dry, fans may actually cause more harm than good,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Henry Young<\/a>, associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n Using a fan when temperatures soar above 90 degrees can actually raise your body temperature, working against your efforts to stay cool \u2014 and running the risk of serious health complications in the process. \u201cCounter to what we think, fans do not actually lower air temperature: They move warm air away from our skin, which makes us feel cooler,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Eric Ascher<\/a>, a family medicine physician at Northwell\u2019s Lenox Hill Hospital. \u201cIf the air temperature is similar to or warmer than your body temperature, you may be increasing your body temperature by using fans.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Humidity plays a role in this, too, said\u00a0Dr. Lauren Snyder<\/a>, a family medicine physician and assistant professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She points to a recent New England Journal of Medicine<\/a>\u00a0study that looked at fan use in older people in hot environments; it found there was less of a cooling effect as the humidity dropped.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fans are an iconic accessory in hot weather, making this advice a little confusing. Here\u2019s why flipping on a fan can be dangerous in a heat wave, plus a few things you can do instead to stay cool when temperatures soar.<\/p>\n If it’s over 90 degrees inside, turn that fan off. MementoJpeg via Getty Images<\/p>\n Why It\u2019s A Bad Idea To Use A Fan In A Heat Wave<\/p>\n If you\u2019re in the air conditioning and you want to turn on a fan, go for it. But if the air is hot when you turn on the fan, think again.<\/p>\n \u201cIn settings with very hot temperatures, your body is already working hard to stay cool,\u201d Ascher said. \u201cUsing fans when the air is hotter than your body means more hot air is permeating your skin, making you hotter. That puts more stress on your body from heat.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Richard Ricciardi<\/a>, associate dean of clinical practice and community engagement at the George Washington University School of Nursing, compares using a fan in hot temperatures to walking into a sauna. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t cool you off,\u201d he points out.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s more going on here than just feeling hot. Being exposed to high temperatures puts you at risk of heat-related illness, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heat cramps and more, Ricciardi said. Symptoms of each condition vary slightly, but Ricciardi says it\u2019s important to be on the lookout for these:<\/p>\n If your heat illness progresses to heat stroke \u2014 the most serious form of heat illness \u2014 you may experience passing out, sweating profusely, seizures and having a very high body temperature, according to the CDC<\/a>. Heat stroke can be deadly, making it important to take these symptoms seriously.\u00a0<\/p>\n Is It OK To Use A Handheld Fan Outside In The Heat?<\/p>\n Handheld fans are a big accessory when it\u2019s scorching out, but you may run into the same issue when you use these outside. \u201cHandheld fans during a heatwave will not offer relief and may make you feel hotter,\u201d Ascher said.<\/p>\n![\"If](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/43f604a1d9c89945d3b67c106ffd7d1f.jpeg\"\/)
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