How many times have you spent the night tossing and turning in bed to try to get comfortable? This may be due to the temperature of your room, since thermoregulation, or temperature control, plays a role in sleep quality. Many people who don't have effective heating or air conditioning systems find it hard to fall asleep, which brings a range of adverse health effects. If you want to learn more about how the climate of your environment affects your rest, here’s a guide to the research behind it and how you can improve your sleep.

How Heat Affects Sleep

High ambient temperatures can interfere with sleep even in people who don’t experience insomnia. It causes restlessness, wakefulness, and shorter REM duration. It also places you in slow-wave sleep, the deepest, non-REM stage that doesn’t promote rest and doesn’t bring dreams, but makes it harder to wake up. Humidity, which often accompanies high temperatures, also interferes with sleep by causing you to sweat. This often leaves you feeling tired during the day, potentially leading to obesity, lowered quality of life, and even a shorter lifespan.

How the Cold Affects Sleep

In test cases, cold temperatures were found to interfere with the sleep stages as much as hot temperatures. At home, however, sleepers tend to wear warmer bedclothes and use blankets to stay warm, so REM and slow-wave sleep were less affected. 

On the other hand, temperatures between 60 and 68 °F tend to promote deeper sleep by encouraging the production of melatonin, also known as the sleep hormone. It’s also shown to have anti-aging benefits, boost mood, aid in weight loss, and help regulate menstrual cycles. By setting your air conditioning system to these temperatures, you fight the discomfort brought on by heat and help your body achieve a peaceful rest so you wake up ready to face the day.

For a wide selection of quality air conditioning systems to improve your sleep, contact Advanced Mechanical Services in Ridgefield, NJ. Since 1996, they’ve provided residents and businesses of Bergen County with air conditioning systems, multi-zone heating and cooling, and HVAC services to keep units functioning efficiently. Visit their website to learn more about AC units or call (201) 886-2900 today to save up to $500 on a Mitsubishi Electric® ductless AC system.