Keep your cool on hot nights

Rising temperatures and lighter evenings are an uncomfortable combination but you can improve your chances of sleeping soundly

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As we look forward to saying goodbye to spring and hello to summer, we will be revelling in the prospect of sunnier days and warmer weather.

However, heat is one of the main causes of a bad night’s sleep and we're often left tossing, turning and searching for the cold side of the pillow when temperatures start to rise.

Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist and sleep expert at And So To Bed, explained why heat can be so disruptive to our sleep. She said: “As we fall asleep, our body temperature naturally drops.

“When the room is too hot or your covers are too thick, you can struggle to reduce your body temperature, which makes falling asleep much harder.”

According to the National Sleep Foundation, a common cause of insomnia and poor sleep quality is linked to endocrine dysfunction. That can worsen in summer because your body produces less melatonin, a key hormone necessary for healthy sleep cycles. The increased amount of daylight can delay the production of melatonin, one of the hormones that regulates sleep. And this can make it harder to fall asleep at your usual bedtime.