Regulating Body Temperature in Changing Seasons
“Am I hot? Or am I cold?”
"You're too hot" might not be a complaint you'd expect to hear too often in the bedroom, but with bedroom temperature being the biggest sleep disruptor, running at a different degree to your partner can be a serious sleep sucker and point of frustration.
Your body actually undergoes several changes at night to ease you into slumber. Your core and brain temperature decreases, your blood sugar and heart rate drops. Having your bedroom too hot can fight against this process. Sleep experts actually suggest keeping your bedroom cooler than the standard daytime temperature of your home, often between 60-67 degrees.
MEN… DID YOU KNOW?
Men tend to run hotter than women as a result of having more muscle mass, which generates more heat, so you men can often be the heaters in the bed, throwing off the covers!
FOR THE WOMEN…
Hormones can also play a part, in our being hot one minute and cold the next. As there are varying hormone levels throughout a woman’s cycle, as can her body temperatures shift.
TIPS FOR EVERYONE:
Pyjamas
Breathable fabrics such as cotton, linen, and silk are the best choices for sleep clothing. Avoid synthetics such as polyester, which don’t breathe well. The same natural fabrics that work for sleepwear are also good choices for bedding, including wool, silk and alpaca. Don’t opt for synthetic fabrics in your sheets and bedcovers, as these materials trap both heat and moisture. You’ll be much less affected by spiking temperatures overnight.
Mattress & pillows
Some types of mattresses can make body temperature control more difficult than others by trapping warm air between your body and the mattress itself. Memory foam in particular could cause you to experience high body temperature while sleeping. Why? The heat from your body is transferred into the foam to help make it warm and mold to the shape of your body. While this may make the mattress more supportive, this heat is reflected onto your body and can lead to overheating. Adding a wool mattress topper to your bedding is the way to go if you want something that acts as a body temperature regulator. With its temperature regulating capabilities, you’re much less likely to be woken up by a hot sweat or a fever in the evening
When trying to find a solution, consider how you sleep, your natural body temperature, your partner’s preferences, your mattress and your bedding. The answer could be as simple as changing your sheets, adding a mattress cover, or opting for two covers, or you could upgrade to a bed that is a better fit.