Last Updated:
Prolonged exposure to heaters can also cause breathing problems, especially in children, the elderly and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
During winter, many people sleep with heaters on at night to avoid the cold. This practice provides warmth, but the low humidity and dry air can have a variety of effects on the body. Dry air can cause common problems like sore throat, dry skin and irritated eyes. Prolonged exposure to heaters can also cause breathing problems, especially in children, the elderly and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of sleeping with a heater on all night on the lungs and what symptoms to look out for.
Constant exposure to the hot, dry air of a heater affects the lungs, and its early symptoms often resemble a cold. People may wake up in the morning with a dry throat, cough, shortness of breath, or chest tightness. Some may also experience frequent coughing at night. If someone already has asthma, bronchitis, or allergies, sleeping with the heater on can make their problems worse. If it lasts for a long time, symptoms like persistent cough, fatigue and shortness of breath may appear. Therefore, these symptoms should not be ignored.
Mulchand Hospital Dr. Bhagwan Mantri explains that the heat from the heater absorbs moisture from the room, making the air very dry. When we breathe in such air, the air in the lungs contracts and burns. This leads to cough, dry throat and difficulty in breathing.
In addition, dry air thickens the mucus in the lungs, which increases the difficulty of breathing. This condition reduces the ability of the lungs to clean their lungs and increases the risk of infection. People with pre-existing asthma or allergies are immediately affected by heater air, which can cause breathing problems at night. So, using a heater can definitely provide comfort, but if used incorrectly, it can directly affect lung health.
What precautions should be taken while using a heater?
- Keep the room well ventilated.
- Keep a bucket of water nearby or run a humidifier.
- Do not leave the heater running all night.
- Do not allow children and the elderly to sit too close to the heater.
New Delhi,New Delhi,Delhi
Dec 04, 2025 12:00 PM IST
Sleeping with a heater has a dangerous effect on the lungs! The pulmonologist said the damage…