The research was led by a team under Dr. Fergus O'Connor, who works at the School of Health, Sport and Social Work at Griffith University. The scientists investigated how bedroom temperature affects heart rate and stress levels in elderly participants.
"For older adults, maintaining a nighttime temperature of 24°C helps reduce the risk of increased stress response during sleep," noted Dr. O'Connor.
The doctor explained how heat affects the body: "When a person experiences heat, their physiological response is an increase in heart rate. The heart starts to work harder to cool the body, which in turn creates stress and hinders recovery from the heat experienced the day before."
During the study, participants used fitness trackers to monitor heart activity during sleep, while temperature sensors recorded conditions in the bedrooms throughout the Australian summer. This data provided the first evidence of how elevated bedroom temperatures can affect heart rhythm and stress levels during sleep.
Dr. O'Connor emphasized the importance of the findings in light of climate change: "The increase in the number of hot nights due to climate change may raise the risk of cardiovascular diseases and worsen sleep quality, negatively impacting the recovery of the autonomic nervous system."
The researcher also noted that there is a gap in current recommendations: "There are guidelines for a maximum daytime indoor temperature of 26°C; however, similar recommendations for nighttime conditions are lacking."
