Getty imagesBeing too hot or too cold can be bad for your health. So what is the optimal temperature for your home?
As a person who feels the cold – but who hesitates to constantly climb the thermostat – a hot water bottle and a thick fleece are two of my closest friends. And like relentless winter storms Switch off the east coast of the United States and Canada – and other countries around the world are going through a very long winter – you might also wonder: what is the best interior temperature for your health and your comfort? It turns out that the answer is not easy.
In the 1860s, German doctor Carl Wunderlich took the temperatures of around 25,000 people and found that the average was 37C (98.6F). This figure has been widely accepted since. However, new data suggest that it is not strictly true. Body temperature can vary Between individuals, with modern research suggesting that sex, metabolism, hormones, activity, age and menstruation all have an influence. So, with such variations to consider, is there an optimal temperature to keep your house?
“We recognize that healthy houses are one of the main elements constituting good health.
Wales public health results 2022 and 2023 winter surveys noted that people were increasingly experiencing stress or anxiety during the three months preceding the winter due to the increase in heating costs (a jump of 57.2% to 66.5%). When the cold settles down, more people put their thermostats at lowered temperatures at home and have chosen to heat specific rooms rather than the whole house – and, rather, have turned into hot water bottles or covers to stay warm.
Alam“We know that all the people who live in cold houses or face frugal poverty are affected. But research shows that there are certain population groups such as the elderly, children and disabled people and health conditions, which could be more impacted,” said Wilson. (Learn more about How cold houses can affect health)).
Likewise, overheating is also a health risk For those who live in warmer climates, with an increased probability of heat exhaustion and heat strokes while the body is desperately trying to cool, putting stress on the heart and kidneys in turn. Overheating can also exacerbate existing health conditions and negative impact mental health, with links found at a Increase in suicide risk.
It is a dark image. Research has shown a global link between exposure to cold and heat and mortality in the 21st century, experts calling for greater public awareness of non -optimal temperatures as health risk. This becomes a growing problem due to climate change and a Longer duration and intensity of extreme weather events.
Babies, young children and the elderly are also particularly vulnerable because they are less able to thermal – which means that they are less capable of maintaining a central body temperature by balancing the generation of heat with heat loss.
For example, according to The lullaby confidence In the United Kingdom, the ambient temperature recommended for babies is slightly lower than the average, at 16-20c (60-68F). If babies overheat, there is a Sudden infantile death risk of syndromeSo the charitable body advises the use of a thermometer to test the room temperature, but also check your baby by feeling the back of their neck and chest to see if they are hot or sweaty.
The average body temperature of a newborn or a young child is slightly higher than a child or an older adult, generally between 36.5 and 37.5 ° C (97.7F and 99.5F). It is because their metabolism is more active and their The surface of the body is larger in relation to their body weight. While their body is struggling with thermoregulation, they need more time to sweat, so their body is more warm.
The elderly, on the other hand, may need their homes a little warmer because they tend to have a lower Body temperature at rest compared to young adults. Metabolic rate decrease With age, which means that it is more difficult for the body of the elderly to produce heat. They are also more likely to take medication or suffer from a chronic disease – which can both affect the body’s capacity to thermoreglate. DiabetesFor example, can prevent blood which flows normally to provide heat. Even slightly cooler houses at 18C (65F) can lead to hypothermia.
A study observed that the physical performance of elderly women aged 70 to 95 in a moderately cold environment at 15 ° C (59F) and warmer at 25 ° C (77F). The results have shown that their physical capacity has worsened considerably in 45 minutes at colder temperature – highlighting the potential safety risks for the elderly living independently, such as equilibrium problems and the increased risk of falling.
Getty imagesMenstruation also has a role to play, as central body temperature fluctuation throughout the cycle, hitting its highest point in the luteal phase After ovulation. And Hormonal pregnancy and contraceptives container progesterone can also increase the central temperature. However, as women are generally smaller and have a Metabolic rate at rest That men, who reduce heat production when exposed to cold, they can also feel cold more, despite a higher central body temperature.
The extent of the variation in thermal comfort between men and women is disputed. While some research indicate that it is marginal, a study Finland suggests that this could be more important. Take the office environment, for example. If it is unlikely that there is a temperature that appeals to everyone because of our individual thermoregulation, overall, the study revealed that women were often dissatisfied with room temperature, feeling both uncomfortably cooler and warmer than men. Another study of office temperatures in Japan showed a 3.1c (5.6f) Neutral temperature difference Between female and male workers.
At home, on the other hand, reaching an optimal basic body temperature may not be a “golden ticket” for a perfect sleep, explains Bill Wisden, sleeping expert and director of the UK Dementia Research Institute of the Imperial College of London, “but that would help”.
Sleep, he says, is “temporally linked At the circadian rate of central body temperature and skin temperature. “In other words, a few hours before falling asleep, our central body temperature begins to decrease When melatonin, the hormone that regulates the sleep cycle is produced. The body temperature continues to drop Throughout the night, reaching a low point early in the morning before gradually warm up over the morning.
Getty imagesOne thing that can help you fall asleep is “hot bath effect“Wisden says that having a hot bath before bedtime can help induce sleep.” We have had physiological experiences with mice and we found that if you warm the skin, this sends signals to the hypothalamus at the base of the brain – and it triggers sleep induction and body cooling. “”
Thus, passing under a thick duvet at night can help the body prepare the body to Longer episodes of sleep or deeper sleep. Hanging like this – to warm the skin – is not unique to humans. Wisden adds: “Pets, cats and dogs curl up – and some animals build a nest … which provides a kind of thermal insulation.”
But once you sleep quickly, a fresh room temperature is ideal: between 16 and 18 ° C (60-65F). While The elderly could sleep more comfortably In a room that makes a few warmer degrees, being in a too hot room can cause poor sleep quality. This can lead to wake up throughout the night, as well as a lack of sleep not rem – the most restful Sleep stage. “Being too hot during sleep is bad. It’s exactly like a noise or a sensation on your skin, or a pain. Being hot while you sleep stimulates sensory perception and wakes you up,” said Wisden.
In the end, although we can be guided by research, it seems that it is impossible to find an optimal temperature that will appeal to everyone. From age to sex, from hormones to metabolism, there are many factors at stake that could influence, whether you prefer a warmer or colder room.
Thus, the battle of the thermostat is raging.
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