Were you aware that sleeping in a cold room is better for you than sleeping in a warm room? This may come as a surprise to many people, but it is true. Multiple credible studies have shown that people who sleep in a cool room enjoy better quality sleep than those who sleep in a warm room. Additionally, sleeping in a cool environment, as well as a room being dark, has many health benefits to your body, including positively impacting your sleep cycle and supporting your circadian rhythm. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of sleeping in a cold room.
Fall asleep quickly
If you have slept in both a cold room and a warm room, then you must have discovered that you usually fall asleep quicker when in a cold room. This does not happen by chance, there is a scientific explanation for it. As the time for bed approaches, your body temperature will naturally drop. This not only boosts your metabolic process but also triggers the release of sleep hormone, allowing you to fall asleep quickly, especially in a cooler environment conducive to deep sleep.
By keeping your room at a cooler temperature, you are enhancing your body's instinct to sleep. If the room is too hot, you may experience trouble sleeping because the hormone that is supposed to signal your brain that it is time to sleep will not be triggered. In a cold room, you will not only fall asleep more quickly but you will also enjoy a deeper, better quality of sleep, allowing you to enter important restorative sleep phases.
It slows down the aging process
In addition to falling asleep quickly, your skin will also age more slowly in a cooler room. Clinical studies have shown that rooms that are between temperatures of 60-68 degrees encourage the body to produce an anti-aging hormone known as melatonin, making this temperature range the ideal sleeping temperature for promoting restorative sleep.
Melatonin is a potent anti-aging hormone that can help to slow down the aging process. This means enjoying healthier, glowing, younger-looking skin for years without using expensive skincare creams. Additionally, melatonin also helps to promote better and deeper sleep.
Uninterrupted sleep cycles
About 70% of American adults have interrupted sleep cycles. This means that they don't complete the critical sleep stages. Sleep disruption has many negative effects on the body, including increased stress responsivity, reduced quality of sleep, somatic problems, mood disorders, memory and concentration difficulties, emotional distress among many others.
However, you can minimize all of this by sleeping in a cold room. Research has shown that sleeping in cooler temperatures helps you to stay asleep for longer periods, thus allowing you to complete all the crucial stages of sleep. A cold room creates a perfect environment for your body thus allowing you to enjoy better sleep uninterrupted. When sleeping in a warm room, you are more likely to wake up several times due to the discomfort caused by higher temperatures and night sweats.
It boosts your metabolism
Sleeping in a cool temperature room helps to boost your metabolic process, which in turn helps to lower the risk of suffering from diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. It also boosts the production of growth hormones which help to repair damaged muscle tissues and bone fractures.
Children who sleep in colder rooms are generally healthier and more active than those who sleep in warmer rooms because of increased metabolism. A colder sleeping condition also promotes glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity, which help to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
It helps to prevent insomnia
It is estimated that 10%-30% of adults in the United States live with chronic insomnia. Clinical studies have shown that people who suffer from insomnia usually have a warmer core body temperature moments before falling asleep. Your body is supposed to cool off at night in preparation for sleep. However, if the opposite happens, then you will have altered the body's natural preparation for sleep, potentially impacting sleep quality and leading to insomnia.
It reduces your stress level
People who get quality sleep at night are generally happier and more productive during the day. Insufficient sleep can increase stress levels which can lead to lasting mental and physical health problems. Sleeping in a cold room allows you to enjoy long hours of uninterrupted sleep thus reducing your stress level.
On the other hand, if you sleep in a warm room, you are more likely to experience difficulty falling asleep and may get disrupted several times, thus affecting your quality of sleep that may result in higher levels of stress.
It enhances your mood
Besides enjoying a restful sleep, sleeping in a colder room also helps to enhance your mood in many ways. As previously mentioned, sleeping in a cold room helps to improve your overall quality of sleep. This, in turn, will help you wake up in the morning feeling better and rested, thus boosting your mood.
Additionally, increased production of the anti-aging hormone melatonin also helps to boost the production of serotonin, the feel-good hormone. Increased production of serotonin in your brain will make you feel better and happier after a good night's sleep.
Tips on how to make your room colder
Now that you know the benefits of sleeping in a cold room, the question that you are probably asking yourself right now is: how can I make my room cold? You don't have to live in an area that is generally cold to enjoy the benefits of sleeping in a cold room. You can make simple modifications to your warm room to help regulate body temperature and create a cooler environment. Below are tips on how to make your room cooler.
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Install a fan
A good fan not only helps to promote air circulation but also helps to lower the temperature in a room. A fan also helps to remove sweat from your body while sleeping. -
Drink plenty of water
Before you go to sleep, drink plenty of water. Besides keeping your body well hydrated, water also has a cooling effect on your body and will help to lower your body's core temperature, thus promoting a cooler temperature throught the night. -
Open a window
Opening windows can also help to improve air circulation and bring in fresh air, contributing to keeping your room cool and reducing excess heat. This can also help to keep carbon dioxide levels low which, in turn, helps you to fall asleep faster. Keep your windows closed during the day when the temperature is high, then open them in the evening when the air is cooler.
Final verdict
Sleeping in a cold room can help to enhance your overall health and wellbeing. It not only enables you to enjoy quality sleep at night but also helps to protect you from diseases. You don't have to install an expensive air conditioning unit in your room to keep it cool. You can use the simple but effective techniques discussed above to keep your room cold.
Your mattress also contributes to whether you sleep hot or cold. The iSense Hybrid Premier and iSense Classic mattresses are constructed with the most breathable, open-cell foam on the market. This foam moves heat away from the body and redistributes it throughout the night to keep you cool. Keeping a cold room and choosing a mattress that helps to regulate your core temperature can contribute to creating your ideal sleep environment.
Not sure which would be best for you? Compare iSense mattresses here.
