A London scientist’s family getaway to Turkey  descended into chaos after she made a seemingly harmless mistake which led to a painful diagnosis.

While on vacation last year, then-24-year-old Liana Foster experienced worrisome white patches in her throat. This development necessitated urgent medical treatment with an IV drip as she battled a severe throat condition, which was attributed to sleeping 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 recounted, “I felt extremely groggy and developed a sore throat. I was shaking and unable to eat or drink. Initially, I suspected it was COVID-19 again due to my high temperature and body aches.”

After a medical examination, the scientist was diagnosed with a severe case of tonsillitis—a condition that involves the swelling of the tonsils, commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections, notably streptococcus bacteria, which is also responsible for strep throat.

Doctors at a local hospital in Turkey informed Liana that the overnight air-conditioning was the most likely culprit behind her condition.

During her first night away, Liana had kept the air conditioning “really low in the room” and believes she may have been mouth-breathing while asleep.

The next day, white patches emerged in her throat, leading to a severe tonsillitis diagnosis. Liana’s holiday was disrupted by a strong reaction to the air conditioning, necessitating a stringent treatment plan.

“I couldn’t take oral antibiotics, so I was given injections for three days, twice daily,” she revealed. “I think if we hadn’t kept the aircon on, I would have been okay.”

“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.