Have you ever tried to sleep on a hot summer night with no air conditioning? Or huddled under a too-thin blanket in the middle of winter? Our bodies work hard to keep us at the right temperature using a process called thermoregulation, and how well your body can keep your temperature just right can have a big impact on your sleep quality. We\u2019ll get into the nitty gritty of how regulating body temperature works and let you know how you can optimize your sleeping temperatures for excellent slumber. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: The content on Sleepopolis is meant to be informative in nature, but shouldn\u2019t be taken as medical advice or take the place of medical advice from a trained professional. If you feel you may be suffering from any sleep disorder or medical condition, please see a healthcare provider.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is Thermoregulation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before you can understand how thermoregulation helps you sleep, you first need to know what on earth it is. The process of thermoregulation keeps your core temperature between 97.7 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which offers the best environment for your body to function at max capacity. (1<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the day, you sense the temperature of both your body and environment. Receptors in your skin and organs send regular updates to a part of your brain<\/a> called the hypothalamus, which helps control body temperature and sleep. (2<\/a>) When you get too hot or cold, your hypothalamus gives orders to fix the imbalance by shivering, sweating, or other temperature-changing actions. (1<\/a>) (3<\/a>)
Your body temp maxes out in the early evening a few hours before you fall asleep and reaches its lowest point one to two hours before you wake up, says
Dr. Robert Oexman<\/a>, MD. These temperature fluctuations closely relate to your circadian rhythm<\/a>, or internal clock, which also plays a big role in how well you sleep. (4<\/a>) Speaking of sleep\u2026 let\u2019s dig into how your body temp acts while you snooze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Happens to Your Body Temperature During Sleep?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As bedtime approaches, your body starts to \u201cclose up shop\u201d for the night. A few hours before you normally fall asleep, your core body temperature starts to dip. (3<\/a>) This downward trend in temperature is steepest as you drift into NREM (non-rapid eye movement<\/a>) sleep, says Oexman, but your temp still continues to fall gradually through the night until you approach wake-up time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your body wants it cool when we sleep, why do we like to snuggle up under warm covers at bedtime? This phenomenon is known as the \u201cwarm bath effect.\u201d When you warm up for 10 minutes to two hours before sleeping (we know \u2014 it\u2019s quite the range!), you may find you can fall asleep faster at bedtime. (3<\/a>) (5<\/a>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether with a shower<\/a>, bath, or snuggling your boo under a cozy comforter<\/a>, giving your temp a little boost before bed widens (dilates) blood vessels in your skin, which then causes a steep drop in core body temperature, says Oexman, making it easier to fall asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your body temperature continues to drop during all sleep stages, although not dramatically. (4<\/a>) (6<\/a>) When you get to REM (rapid-eye movement) sleep<\/a>, your body doesn\u2019t regulate temperature as well, says Oexman, which is why you may wake up in the early morning hours wanting to throw off your covers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do I Get So Hot When I Sleep?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a perfect world, our bodies would shift our temperature exactly right all the time, but sometimes illness and other factors keep us from our best thermoregulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health Conditions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Quite a few health issues can disrupt your temperature controls, but you have options when it comes to treatments. If you think you may have a condition listed below, let your healthcare provider know and they can help you make a plan to get  your thermoregulation back on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n