An Australian study published in the journal BMC Medicine suggests that keeping nighttime bedroom temperatures at around 24°C may benefit adults aged 65 and older. The researchers found that this temperature reduced stress responses and helped the heart work more efficiently during sleep.
“When the human body is exposed to heat, its normal physiological response is to increase the heart rate,” the study author explained. “The heart is working harder to try and circulate blood to the skin surface for cooling. However, when the heart works harder and for longer, it creates stress and limits our capacity to recover from the previous day’s heat exposure.”
For your daily dose of medical news and updates, visit: HEALTH
To investigate the impact of bedroom temperature on heart health, the study tracked 47 adults aged 65 and older over an Australian summer. Participants wore fitness activity trackers on their non-dominant wrist to monitor heart activity during sleep, while bedroom temperatures were recorded using sensors.
The study found that the heart showed signs of distress when bedroom temperatures rose above 24°C. As room temperatures increased, heart rate and cardiovascular stress also rose, with temperatures above 27°C nearly tripling the risk compared to cooler rooms.
The researchers noted that rising nighttime temperatures, driven by climate change, could independently contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by impairing sleep and limiting the body’s ability to recover overnight.