Sleeping Conditions and Health Effects

Your sleeping conditions play a huge role in your overall health. Your overall sleep actually has a large impact on your energy levels, metabolism, physical appearance, and much more. For many sleepers, it’s almost impossible to get a good night’s rest if you are too hot or too cold. Sure, maybe you’re just trying to be money conscious by keeping the temperature as low as possible in the winter or as high as possible in the summer, but your thermostat can actually make or break your slumber. Instead, consult your local HVAC contractor, like Boerne Air Conditioning Experts, for advice on how to properly control the temperature of your home.

Cold Sleeping Conditions

Most science has shown that your sleeping conditions are more beneficial is your are sleeping in cool temperatures—maybe between 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit; however, there are some dangers to sleeping in the cold—particularly in the winter, if you are trying to combat the cold. For example, there are some sleepers who believe in using space heaters in their bedrooms during the winter months. This can be extremely dangerous. You should only use a space heater when there is zero chance you’ll fall asleep while they’re operating. If you’re feeling a little chilly and starting to drift off, pile on the blankets instead. Similar to space heaters, it can be worrisome to sleep while you have a fire burning.  If you need to sleep in front a fire to stay warm, it’s best to have a glass screen you can close.

While cold sleeping conditions might cause some concerns, the cold is actually ideal for your health. Firstly, if your sleeping conditions are cool, rather than warm, it will be much easier to shut your eyes for the night. Low thermostat settings or higher than what’s recommended could lead to restlessness and can also affect the quality of REM, which is known as rapid eye movement and is the stage of sleep with the highest brain activity. During REM sleep, you will often have dreams, and it’s usually difficult to wake a sleeper during this stage.

Conclusions

In the end, of course, the best temperature for your sleep varies for everyone. Depending on health and personal comfort preferences, some temperatures may work better than others. However, scientists have agreed that there is such a thing as too cold and too warm. To figure out the best sleeping conditions for yourself, set your thermostat to a number of different temperatures over a period of nights. If you have a programmable thermostat, try working with your body’s schedule. Set temperatures to gradually cool off around your bedtime, and raise slightly a little before your alarm goes off.

It’s also important to understand that by keeping the temperature low, you’re helping your body do its job. Temperature that are too high can interfere with your body’s natural temperature adjustments. This can create restlessness throughout the night, which will only lead to insomnia. If you’re searching for a solution for better health and a better night’s sleep, you just might find your answer with a quick dial of your thermostat.