Oddly enough, sleeping in socks can help us fall asleep faster. This is because temperature regulation is a necessary part of the sleep cycle. And we already know how important sleep is in our life. After all, humans spend about a third of our lives sleeping.
Most people have trouble sleeping from time to time. One trick you may not have tried is sleeping with your socks on.
It may seem that wearing socks to bed could overheat your feet, but in reality, this habit helps regulate your internal body temperature.
A study published in 2007 concluded that adults who wore normal – not compression – or heated socks in bed slept faster. This is because a person’s core body temperature drops during the night, reaching the lowest temperature around 4 a.m. The average body temperature is 37 ° C but this varies from 1 to 2 degrees over the course of 24 hours. .
Warming the feet and hands causes blood vessels to dilate, a response called vasodilation that releases heat through the skin and helps lower core body temperature. This, in turn, sends a message to the brain that it is time for bed.
Have warm skin = fall asleep faster
A person’s core body temperature is affected by their biological clock, also called the circadian rhythm, which controls the timing of sleep, causing us to feel sleepy at night and awake in the morning.
Body temperature gradually increases during the day , peaking in the late afternoon, which coincides when we feel most awake and alert. Body temperature then drops during the night, making us feel more tired and sleepy.
When we begin to fall asleep, the body temperature drops between 1 and 2 degrees . This could be because the body is reserving that energy for other functions. A) Yes,
if we sleep with our socks on, we could help with the temperature regulation cycles.
Alternatives to socks
If even with these benefits you are reluctant to wear socks in bed, there are some possible alternatives:
-a hot foot bath before bed
-use thermal slippers before getting into bed
-sleep with a hot water bottle near the feet
-sleep with a blanket over the foot of the bed
-take a bath 1 hour before bedtime
If you wear thermal socks then it is important not to overheat them. If they are too hot, they can not only burn your skin but also pose a fire hazard.
Despite what is often said, wearing socks in bed is not unsanitary. However, it is important to choose a pair of socks that are not too tight, as this can reduce circulation. And, of course, avoid wearing compression socks to bed, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
Reference: Skin temperature and sleep-onset latency: changes with age and insomnia. Raymann RJ, Swaab DF, Van Someren EJ. Physiology and Behavior. DOI: 10.1016 / j.physbeh.2006.09.008
