Never do 1 summer habit before bedtime to cool down at night

Never do 1 summer habit before bedtime to cool down at night With soaring temperatures up and down the UK, getting to sleep in the sweltering heat feels harder than ever with many people trying all sorts of so-called hacks to get some shuteye - but one should be avoided The UK is in the throes of another heatwave and, with our thick brick homes typically designed to keep heat in, it can be harder than ever to get to sleep at night when the temperatures feel too high. Many people are trying all sorts of tricks and supposed hacks in a bid to cool down before bed, from sleeping with frozen bottles of water, to putting on damp socks and having a cold shower. But not all these hacks are a viable solution and, according to one expert, jumping into a cold shower before bed should be avoided at all costs. Getting enough sleep each night is vitally important to our overall health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, feeling uncomfortably warm can be incredibly disruptive to a good night’s sleep, leading many of us to spend hours tossing and turning, hoping the temperatures will drop. Poor sleep, over time, can contribute to a wealth of health woes. John Hopkins Medicine states: “Chronic poor sleep may increase the likelihood of developing dementia, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and even cancers of the breast, colon, ovaries and prostate. “Poor sleep can also affect the ability to function while performing daily tasks like working or driving.” According to the NHS, “everyone needs different amounts of sleep” but, on average, adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night, children need nine to 13 hours per night, and toddlers and babies need 12 to 17 hours. The NHS cautions: “You probably do not get enough sleep if you’re constantly tired during the day.” It’s important to try and ensure you get enough sleep consistently each night. Keeping your bedroom a calm, quiet, dark place can help put you in a relaxed frame of mind and make achieving this a little easier. But how do you cool down enough to sleep in a heatwave? Dreams sleep expert Sammy Margo has shared her top tips for managing sleep in extreme temperatures - including avoiding one widely touted solution: a cold shower. Sammy recommends taking a lukewarm shower before bed instead. She said: “Not cold - lukewarm. While it might seem obvious to take a cold shower to cool down before bed, it’s surprisingly not the most effective option.” She continued: “A lukewarm shower helps lower your core body temperature gradually when you step out of it, triggering your body’s natural cooling process and promoting relaxation, which in turn may make it easier to fall asleep comfortably.” A cold shower may contribute to making you feel more alert, prompting your body to “wake up” rather than wind down for a good night’s sleep. On Reddit, one person sought solutions to beating the heat: “How do you sleep in the heat? “Any tips, tricks, life hacks? The fan no longer helps, and the bedroom is 27+ degrees at night because my top floor flat heats up like a furnace. Waiting for the AC to arrive but I haven't slept in 4 days now!” In the comments section, fellow social media users shared their thoughts. One person said: “Shut everything up in the day. When outside temp drops below inside temp, start opening windows." Another said: “If you have a spare spray bottle with a mist setting, give your bed sheets a little spritz before you get in. Repeat as necessary.” A third revealed: “Air conditioning unit I bought years ago. 16 degrees in the bedroom. I don’t sleep otherwise." While a fourth agreed: “Just get an AC. Nothing will ever truly work."