Scientists study ways to beat rising heat for better sleep

Heat disrupts the brain's thermostat and triggers stress

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Cool showers and less coffee: Sleep quality is being harmed by hotter temperatures caused by climate change, and scientists say we need to learn how to adapt.

The human brain is very sensitive to heat, with higher temperatures raising the body's central thermostat and activating stress systems.

Scientists are increasingly exploring mechanisms that can help the body adapt to rising temperatures affecting our sleep and leading to health complications.

Need to adapt

"Rising temperatures induced by climate change and urbanisation pose a planetary threat to human sleep and, therefore, health, performance, and wellbeing," according to a 2024 review of scientific literature published in the journal, Sleep Medicine.