Studies now show that temperature plays an important role in a good night sleep
Posted on: 23/Feb/2016 9:49:02 AM
According to experts, temperature is important to get a good nights sleep. A study published last year found that sleep is more tightly regulated by temperature than by light. The study also found that the body temperature needs to drop to initiate sleep. Body temperature fluctuates throughout the day.
Studies have found that the ideal temperature for sleep is 65 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. When people pile on blankets, room temperatures as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit are best.
Unfortunately, temperature is a big point of contention between couples. Women prefer higher temperatures compared to men. Says a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, People tend to set their ambient house or bedroom temperature a little higher than is actually optimal for sleep. The body`s core temperature needs to drop by about 2 to 3 degrees Fahrenheit to initiate sleep. If our core temperature is too high the brain cannot easily make the switch from being awake to being asleep, or create the best quality sleep. When treating insomnia patients, sleep experts will often ask about room temperature and advise patients who set their thermostat to 70 or 72 degrees to drop it.
The temperature of our heat producing core i.e. the brain and the abdominal cavity is called core body temperature. Normally, the temperature is at its lowest in the early morning hours, before waking up.
An associate professor at Flinders University in Australia says, During sleep, people`s bodies naturally try to lose heat from the hands and feet. Put on socks if your feet are too cold. And if you`re too hot, try sticking your hands and feet out from under the covers.
