Bedroom temperature at night can affect heart health —especially in the elderly.
According to the study’s lead author, Dr. Fergus O’Connor of Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, heat puts extra stress on the cardiovascular system.
He pointed out that when the human body is exposed to heat, its response is to circulate blood to the surface of the skin to cool it down.
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“But when the heart works harder and longer, it creates stress and limits its ability to recover from the previous day’s heat exposure,” O’Connor said in a press release.
The researchers aimed to understand how real-world bedroom temperature affects this. senior citizen.
The research team followed 47 adults, with an average age of 72, living in south-east Queensland.
Although many sleep observations take place in special clinics, this was a “free-living” study, meaning participants continued their normal activities and sleep schedules.
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Scientists observed participants throughout the Australian summer from December to March. Each person was equipped with high technology. fitness tracker Heart rates will be monitored from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., according to the release.
They then placed sensors directly in the participants’ bedrooms to record their body temperature and monitor over 14,000 hours of nightly sleep.
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The temperature at which my heart began to show signs of confusion was just over 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Between 75 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit, the probability of “clinically relevant” illness decreases. heart recovery Researchers found a 40% increase.
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Between 79 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, the odds double. Above 82, the risk was nearly three times higher than in a cool room.
“For people aged 65 and over, maintaining a bedroom temperature of 24°C (75.2°F) overnight reduced the likelihood of heightened stress responses during sleep,” O’Connor said.
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Although the study shows a strong link between heat and cardiac stress, the researchers acknowledged that its observational design does not conclusively prove that heat is the sole cause.
This study focused only on older Australians and may not apply to other populations.
And while wearable devices are advanced, they are not as accurate as devices. medical grade electrocardiogram Used in clinical settings.
Mr O’Connor highlighted gaps in temperature guidance. Although there are guidelines for maximum indoor temperatures during the day, there are no equivalent recommendations for nighttime conditions.
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The study was published in the journal BMC Medicine.
