Room temperature affects sleep. A cool room can make you wake up early, and a warm room can help you fall asleep faster. A warm room can also help you reduce your body’s core temperature, reducing the likelihood of experiencing sleep apnea.
Layering Up Reduces the Body’s Core Temperature
The process of layering up reduces the core temperature of the body. This helps the body conserve heat by preventing sweating and decreasing blood flow to the papillary layers of the skin. In addition, people can lower their body temperature by applying cold water to their bodies. Cold water can lower the blood temperature, especially in the veins closest to the surface.
According to a University study, around 10% of the body’s core heat is lost through the head. However, this area only accounts for about seven to nine percent of the entire surface area of the body. Nonetheless, it’s essential to dress appropriately to avoid sweating.
Cold Weather? Keeping a Warm Environment at Night Helps You Fall Asleep Faster
Temperature is another important factor for falling asleep, so it is vital to find a temperature that will be comfortable for you. If you have difficulty staying cool, keep an ice pack or water next to your bed, wear lightweight pajamas or sleep naked. Utilize a fan to keep the air circulating. Sleeping at 65°F is excellent. Keeping the temperature of your room at this temperature will help you sleep better and wake up refreshed in the morning.
Keeping your bedroom cool during the day and warm at night is a good idea if you live in a warm region. This reduces room heat and speeds up sleep. Moreover, opening windows across each other is good for promoting natural cross-ventilation. Smaller openings allow more air to pass through the room, and larger ones provide a stronger cooling effect.
Keeping a Cold Environment Can Cause Cardiac Autonomic Responses
A simulated autonomic conflict caused by cold water immersion in rats can lead to cardiac arrhythmias. This condition is similar to that of alternating bradycardia and tachycardia in humans. To date, this arrhythmia is only known in isolated rat hearts. Repeated exposure to the simulated autonomic conflict increased the severity of the arrhythmia.
Cold water immersion triggers the diving and cold shock responses, two powerful autonomic responses. These responses are triggered by cutaneous cold thermoreceptors and are accompanied by parasympathetic bradycardia and sympathetic tachycardia. This autonomic conflict is thought to be the cause of many sudden cardiac death cases previously attributed to drowning.
Warm weather? Keeping a Cool Environment at Night Affects Sleep Apnea
Keeping a cool environment at night can help you get a better night’s sleep. Winter air can dry the airway and nasal passages, causing apnea. In addition, the cold weather makes it easier for cold viruses to enter the body. Furthermore, cold weather often contributes to congestion, worsening sleep apnea symptoms.
Keeping a cool environment at night is especially important for those with sleep apnea. Keeping the room cool during the night can help those with the disorder breathe better and get a better night’s rest. The bedroom should be 65 degrees for the best sleep.
