Many individuals experience difficulty sleeping during hot or restless nights.
Recent research on a sample of 50 volunteers aged over 60 and residing in Boston, US, indicates that the ideal temperature range for optimal sleep among older adults is between 20 to 25 °C (68 to 77 °F).
The study discovered that when temperatures escalated from 25 °C to 30 °C, the participants' sleep efficiency plummeted by up to 10%. This can impair brain performance, heightened stress, anxiety, and fatigue, and negatively impact blood sugar level control the following day.
As temperatures continue to rise due to global warming, the study's findings support the need for measures to enhance the thermal comfort of dwellings, mainly aged care homes and public housing.
Each person has a unique optimal temperature range for sleep, which may change over time. Minor tweaks to one's personal sleep environment, such as improving airflow and wearing lightweight sleepwear, can be beneficial to optimize sleep. However, enhancing the thermal comfort of the building itself can make a more significant difference, although it may be more challenging and costly.
System-wide policies that promote better building standards for new constructions, increased insulation for existing dwellings, and subsidies to encourage the adoption of solar panels to provide affordable electricity for all are necessary actions, not only as proactive measures but also adaptations to mitigate the impacts of climate change on public health and well-being.
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