For the longest time, my trusty old silver desk fan was an absolute must-have for a good night’s sleep. Its soft, steady hum and the cool breeze it blew across my face were what I believed I needed to drift off.

My friends would often tease me about it, and my coworker, Maxton, even made a funny joke, saying, “I’d marry a fan before a person.” I just laughed along, never really questioning my need for it.

But then, everything changed. Last week, I stumbled upon an article online that truly caught my attention. It talked about how sleeping with a fan on could potentially dry out your throat, lead to allergies, and even make asthma worse. This information really “rattled me.” Suddenly, I wondered if this was the reason I frequently woke up with a dry, “scratchy voice.” The thought was unsettling.