Hidden Dangers of Sleeping With Your Face Covered
Sleeping with your face covered may feel warm and cozy, but it reduces oxygen and increases carbon dioxide.
On cold winter nights, many people love snuggling under a warm blanket. The comfort and safety often make it tempting to pull the blanket over the face while sleeping. However, this simple habit can quietly harm your health, even though it feels cozy. People usually cover their face to stay warm in cold weather, block light for privacy, or feel calm and secure. While these reasons are understandable, covering the face affects breathing and sleep quality.
When you sleep with your face covered, a small enclosed space forms around your nose and mouth. The air you exhale gets trapped, and instead of breathing fresh oxygen, you end up re-breathing carbon dioxide. This reduces oxygen levels and increases CO? in the body. The risk becomes higher if the blanket is thick or the room has poor ventilation. Even a small drop in oxygen can disturb the body during sleep.
This habit may lead to breathing discomfort, morning tiredness, headaches, dizziness, overheating, night sweats, increased heart rate, and poor sleep quality. Lack of oxygen can also affect the brain and mental health, causing poor concentration, memory problems, irritability, and increased stress. Children, elderly people, asthma patients, people with sleep apnea, and heart patients are at higher risk.
To stay warm safely, wear a cap or hoodie, use layered blankets, choose warm sleepwear, and keep the room comfortable. Avoid covering your nose and mouth. If you must use something on your face, choose a breathable material, though sleeping with your face uncovered is always best. Fresh air is essential for healthy, restful sleep.
