Why is it Hot in Bed?
Feeling hot in bed is a common experience with several contributing factors. It's not simply about the room temperature; your body's natural processes and bedding choices play significant roles.
Our bodies naturally shed heat during sleep as our core body temperature drops a couple of degrees. This heat transfer to the surroundings is often trapped by bedding materials like sheets and mattresses, leading to a feeling of warmth, and potentially overheating. [^1] As the night progresses, heat production decreases, which might lead to a feeling of coldness in the morning. [^5]
Environmental and Bedding Factors
- Bedding: The type of bedding significantly impacts your sleep temperature. Heavier blankets, thick mattresses, and non-breathable sheets trap body heat and moisture, contributing to a warmer sleep environment. [^1] [^2] [^3] [^4]
- Room Temperature: Even if your room's temperature is comfortable, insufficient ventilation can cause heat buildup, making you feel warmer in bed.
- Clothing: Wearing warm pajamas or too many layers in bed further traps heat.
- Medications: Certain medications can cause night sweats, leading to a feeling of excessive warmth. [^3]
- Medical Conditions: Hot flashes, associated with menopause, can also contribute to night-time overheating. [^3]
Practical Solutions
To mitigate excessive heat while sleeping, consider:
- Using breathable bedding made of materials like cotton or linen.
- Opting for lighter blankets or using a sheet only.
- Adjusting room temperature with ventilation or air conditioning.
- Wearing lighter sleepwear.
- Addressing any underlying medical conditions with appropriate medical advice.
By understanding the contributing factors, you can proactively create a cooler, more comfortable sleep environment.
[^1]: Why Do We Get So Hot When We Sleep? The reason people “sleep hot” has a lot to do with design. Our core body temperature drops by a couple of degrees during the night, shedding heat into the surrounding areas, and certain sheets and mattresses trap the heat and moisture around us.
[^2]: Reddit r/explainlikeimfive: More and more and more of your body heat gets trapped under the sheet over time until you eventually overheat. It'd be like adding another layer…
[^3]: Healthline: Even if your room is the perfect temperature for you, it's still possible to feel too warm during the night. Your bedding, pre-sleep routine, some medications,…
[^4]: Reddit r/sleep: I sleep on a Foam mattress with some covers ontop of it. However, I swear it feels like my bed is absorbing my body heat, making the bed itself hot to sleep on.
[^5]: Quora: As the night goes on, the amount of heat you produce greatly decreases, as well as cognitive functions, blood flow, heart-rate, digestion, etc.
