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...the voice of pensioners

A winter-sleep question that needs more research?

06 Feb 2019

 

Dear LPG,

 

I want to talk about sleep again, and especially how we are affected as we get older and it gets colder. 

 

I have never had real problems sleeping but, as I have become older, the cold appears to have just a bit more of an effect on how disturbed my nights become. 

 

In the summer many of us can’t sleep because of the heat and the winter leaves us with similar results for the opposite reasons.  In winter I often leave the heating on in my home during the night, but then I find that I get too hot to sleep while not turning it on at all results in frozen feet.  It occurred to me to take a look on line which resulted in many answers all differing more than slightly, and even though there seem to be so many different studies, and so many different agencies supplying results, they all believe they have found the answer. 

 

It made me smile that there are so many reasons for the answers found online, even though they vary yet appear to be conclusive; most of the information suggests that between 16 to 18 degrees centigrade as best, although I also found a site which advises that sleeping in the cold is a good idea (I note that the sale of hot water bottles and electric blankets are still very much in vogue).

 

Just in case there are others like me who are still trying to gauge the optimum temperature to promote the best result for one’s comfort, and wallet, I think that the best reaction must lie in doing one’s own research in order to find the answer. 

 

So I shall continue with my personal research and share more on the subject when I have found my version of the ultimate solution, although I think that all the googling I have done on the subject is enough to send me to sleep for a bit.

 

 

AH, Ladywell

 

 

AH was kind enough to share the related web pages. 

 

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