No one likes to wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat or shivering under the blankets. Your home temperature affects you in more ways than you may realize. According to a study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, the effects of irregular cold or heat exposure include increased wakefulness and decreased REM sleep. So what exactly does this mean?
How does temperature affect your sleep?
According to a Science Magazine study, regulation of your body’s temperature is critical for both falling asleep and staying asleep. As the body prepares for sleep, the core tries to cool down by releasing heat through your hands and feet. The body continues to keep cool until moments before awakening. By altering the regulation of your body’s temperature, you risk experiencing unrestful sleep.
What is the optimal temperature for sleeping?
According to Sleep Advisor researchers, the ideal temperature for sleeping is between 60-72℉ for adults and 60-75℉ for infants. A temperature that is too extreme in either direction could result in insomnia and discomfort. Since your body’s goal is to cool down at night, it is advised to keep a cool environment so there’s no interference with the body temperature regulation. So how can you make sure that our home temperature is properly managed?
Installing a thermostat will help ensure a good night’s rest
Have you ever wondered why the upstairs bedrooms feel the hottest? Simply put, hot air rises, and cold air sinks. There are some solutions to this problem: a new thermostat install and possibly an HVAC zoning system. By installing a programmable thermostat, you will be able to program your home to the recommended sleep temperature to ensure a good night’s rest. A zoning system will allow you to control and read the temperature of different rooms in the house – instead of one central location. This extra investment will significantly improve cases in which one specific zone in the house is warmer than the other, such as an upstairs bedroom.
Contact Mendez Air Conditioning and Heating if you would like to know more about the benefits of installing a thermostat or zoning system in your home.
