How Does Air Conditioning Affect Sleep Quality?
Air Conditioning Affect Sleep Quality
A good night’s sleep is a critical component of your health. It allows your body to recover from the day, supports cognitive function, and replenishes energy. It also improves mood and overall wellness. Many factors can impact the quality of your sleep, including environmental and behavioral conditions. Air conditioning can play a crucial role in the quality of your rest by regulating temperature, humidity and movement of air to create a comfortable sleep environment. However, if you have an AC unit that is poorly configured or operating incorrectly, your sleep quality could be negatively impacted.
Sleep is essential for your health, and a proper mattress, bedding, and clothing are vital to a healthy night’s rest. However, many people overlook the impact their HVAC system can have on sleep.
The ideal sleeping temperature is between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit (18 and 20 degrees Celsius). A cooler room helps to promote the body’s natural drop in core temperature during sleep, facilitating deeper restorative sleep. However, too cool a sleeping environment can be difficult to fall asleep and may cause you to wake up in the middle of the night due to a feeling of coldness or being uncomfortable.
How Does Air Conditioning Affect Sleep Quality?
In order to find the perfect sleeping temperature, you should experiment with different settings and consider how each affects your sleep. The ideal temperature setting will depend on your personal preferences and comfort level, as well as the climate where you live. A trusted AC contractor like JPS Furnace & Air Conditioning can help you determine the right sleep temperature for your home.
Air conditioning works by removing heat from your home and transferring it to the outdoors through a series of coils. The cooling agent, called refrigerant, moves through the coils and absorbs the heat before it is expelled outside. As the refrigerant passes through, it releases a colder substance that helps to maintain the optimum sleeping temperature.
Researchers found that airflow velocity – the rate at which cold air enters and exits your bedroom during sleep – can have a significant influence on the quality of your sleep. They conducted a series of experiments with 10 subjects, who kept self-administered sleep diaries to evaluate presleep routines, naps, use of stimulants before bedtime, and more. They found that lower airflow velocity triggered the brain to wake up and was associated with reduced sleep depth, light sleep and REM, while higher airflow velocity increased wakefulness.
Other important aspects of your sleep environment include the quality of the air you breathe and the noise level in your bedroom. A high-quality HVAC unit with a quiet inverter technology can ensure a soothing, consistent noise level without producing much humming or other distracting sounds while it operates. It’s also important to ensure that your bedroom is properly insulated and that the door and windows are shut. This will prevent drafts and cold spots from interfering with your sleep and contributing to a less restful night.
