On cold winter nights we long for warmth and security. Quite a few people therefore turn up the heating properly before going to sleep. Find out why it’s not a good idea and what three things happen when you sleep with the heater warm.
Table of Contents
Diese 3 Dinge passieren, wenn Sie mit warmer Heizung schlafen
1. Ihr Risiko für Diabetes könnte steigen
If you are obese and may have a family history of developing type 2 diabetes, you may be interested in the results of a four-month study . In it, researchers at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Maryland found that people who slept at lower temperatures not only burned more calories, but also built more brown fat tissue . In contrast to white fat, this is health-promoting and can reduce the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes. The brown fat doubled within a month in those test subjects: inside at temperatures around 18 to 19 °Cslept. At higher temperatures, the positive effect was no longer visible, which is why you should not turn up the heating too much at night for the sake of your health. However, since this was a small study, the results should be treated with caution.
2. You get headaches more easily
The warmer the bedroom, the more liquid we lose during the night. Even in cooler climates, we lose some water through breathing and sweating during the seven to eight hours we sleep . However, sweat loss increases at higher temperatures, which is why warm heating air dries us out even more overnight. Due to the lack of liquid , our blood becomes thicker and all parts of the body are less well supplied with blood – including the brain. If you do not compensate for the loss of water in the morning and during the day, headaches can occur.
Tip: To prevent this, it is best to drink a large glass of water immediately after getting up.
3. You become more susceptible to colds
However, it is not only our brain that suffers from the warm heating air in winter, but also our mucous membranes . These dry out quickly when we spend more time in heated indoor spaces and thus become more susceptible to pathogens. As a result, it can be easier to catch a cold with a sore throat and a runny nose. So support your immune system and drink at least two liters of water, tea or coffee throughout the day to moisten your mucous membranes.
Tips for a pleasant room climate
- Humidify the air in the room:
There are several methods to increase the humidity in the room to counteract dry heating air in winter. In addition to indoor plants and room humidifiers, a simple trick also helps: place a few damp tea towels on the radiator to moisten the warm air. However, you should not overdo it with moistening, as excessive humidity causes mold to develop. - Ventilate properly:
Tilted windows are not a good idea, especially in winter. Apart from the enormous heating costs that arise as a result, there is insufficient air exchange. In addition, the risk of mold growth increases. Instead, ventilate at least twice a day and throw open all windows for about five minutes. - Sleep at low temperatures:
The optimal room temperature for a restful and healthy sleep is between 16 and 19 degrees Celsius. Make sure you have a sufficiently thick duvet so that you don’t freeze at night and wake up from the cold.
