Discoveries

June 01, 2022

Hot Nights

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Sleeping will become tougher as the climate gets warmer, according to a new study.

Danish researchers found a connection between hotter weather and poor sleep in areas around the world, NPR noted.

In their study, scientists studied data from tens of thousands of smartwatches and wristbands of individuals located in different parts of the globe. They then compared information about when people fell asleep and woke up with data about local weather.

The results showed that hotter nights lead to more difficulties sleeping. Researchers also determined that skin and core body temperatures become more sensitive to temperature during sleep.

But they observed that this effect was felt unequally: This impact is felt more among women, people in lower-income or hot-climate countries and the elderly – whose bodies don’t produce enough sweat to cool their bodies.

With climate change further increasing temperatures and the risk of heatwaves, the authors wrote that “each person could be subjected to an average of two weeks of temperature-attributed short sleep each year.”

The lack of sleep can contribute to major physical and mental problems, including cognitive performance, compromised immune system and depression.

Still, the paper notes that installing air conditioning in households could solve the sleep problem but cause economic and environmental challenges, according to National Geographic.

This story originally appeared in the June 01, 2022 newsletter, But First, Trust.