It is never fun to wake up after a nightmare and if you find that you have been doing this more recently, experts have explained why.
The specialists at Bed Kingdom have explained why your bedroom's temperature plays a crucial role in whether you have sweet dreams or night terrors.
According to the bed builders, those who sleep in warmer bedrooms are more likely to wake up frightened and those who prefer a cooler climate will feel refreshed in the morning, reports Hull Live. As temperatures drop, households may be keeping heating on through the night, which could be causing nightmares to surge.
Ashley Hainsworth, Director of Bed Kingdom said: “Our bodies need to be around 37C in order for us to get a good night's sleep, which is 1C cooler than during the day.
“We typically lose that heat through our head, which stays above the duvet. But if you are snoozing in a room that is too warm, your body is unable to lose that heat and your sleep will be disrupted.
“Sleep deprivation leads to greater sleep intensity, and that in turn leads to greater brain activity while you're dozing.”
High brain activity causes a person to dream more frequently making your dreams more vivid and memorable. The same can also be said for nightmares. The key to the phenomenon is the sleep stage Rapid Eye Movement (REM), which is exacerbated by disturbed sleep.
Bed Kingdom expert Mr Hainsworth added: “Maintaining the ideal bedroom temperature can be tricky, with mercury levels fluctuating during the colder months. “But there are other things you can do. Using cotton or silk sheets and duvet covers can keep you cooler.
“If you often suffer from being too hot in bed you can add a cooling gel mattress topper or swap your mattress for a more breathable one. Older mattresses can sometimes limit airflow, meaning the heat has nowhere to escape. The same can be said for certain bed frames which limit the circulation of air.
“You should also avoid bad sleep habits such as eating a late evening meal, as this can increase your body’s temperature. And maybe keep the central heating off in your bedroom in the hours before hitting the hay.”
