Your air temperature might seem to have the biggest influence on your sleep, but humidity also plays a big part. An environment with too much humidity can have devastating results for restful slumber.
Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor present in the air. You can measure humidity with a hygrometer; generally speaking, optimal conditions would include keeping relative humidity between 30% and 50%.
Sleeping in a Humid Environment
Many factors contribute to our inability to sleep soundly, with humidity often being one of the major contributors. When indoor air is too humid, it can disrupt slow-wave NREM and REM sleep cycles as well as lead to discomfort; plus it promotes growth of allergens such as mold or dust mites which could exacerbate asthma symptoms or existing allergies.
Humid environments can also exacerbate nighttime sweating, as the excess moisture increases your body temperature and causes you to perspire more than usual. This is particularly bothersome for individuals suffering from dry skin, eyes or throat as the moisture can irritate these areas and prevent them from drying during the night.
Additionally, excessive humidity can foster the growth of bacteria and viruses which could impact on respiratory health, while it may even promote mold or mildew growth – something which further hampers your ability to get restful nights’ rest.
An ideal humidity level for sleeping lies between 40% and 50%. Anything higher could cause damage to furniture, appliances and house structure as well as irritating your sinuses resulting in congestion, itchy eyes and sore throat symptoms.
There are various methods of increasing moisture levels in your bedroom for an enjoyable sleeping environment, including using a cool mist humidifier, running the bathroom fan during showering, and selecting bedding made from natural fibres like cotton and bamboo to keep you cooler and dryer. Furthermore, choosing a mattress with excellent air flow capabilities and breathable covers may further decrease humidity in the bedroom.
Though humidity can bring many advantages, you should never allow its levels in your bedroom to surpass 50% to avoid potential health and damage issues. If your room becomes too humid, try opening windows or using a dehumidifier to bring down humidity levels. Likewise, it is also essential that mattresses and bedding can regulate temperature by providing ample airflow – when purchasing new mattresses consider one with ventilated Gelflex Plus foam to keep you cool throughout the night.
Humidity Levels
Humidity levels affect your sleep in many ways. Achieve optimal humidity in your bedroom is important in terms of avoiding respiratory illnesses, dry skin issues and other ailments that impede on a restful slumber. An accurate hygrometer will allow you to easily monitor both temperature and humidity of the room; you may also use humidifiers if additional moisture needs are required in the air.
Humid environments tend to feel warmer as air absorbs more of your body heat. This makes it harder for you to cool off, leading to discomfort and interrupting sleep. Furthermore, high humidity encourages mold growth which triggers allergy or asthma symptoms which in turn disturb restful slumber.
Sleep is a critical process that involves four distinct stages. The third, or slow-wave sleep, occurs when heart rate, breathing rates and brain wave activity all reach their lowest points; this stage is important for tissue repair, bone and muscle recovery as well as for an immune-enhancing boost. Humidity levels can hinder this stage and disrupt restful nights.
A recommended humidity range for sleeping is 30-50%, providing a balance between dry and moist air that helps alleviate allergies and asthma, prevent the growth of mold and mildew, promote overall good health benefits, as well as provide for an enjoyable sleeping environment by keeping skin hydrated and comfortable.
Low humidity can interfere with sleep by irritating nasal passages and making breathing harder at night, as well as leading to dry skin, sore throat, or other symptoms that interfere with restful slumber. Furthermore, low humidity encourages dust mite growth which trigger allergies or asthma attacks; further impeding quality rest.
Mattresses
If the humidity in your sleep environment is too high, it can disrupt the natural sleep cycle and cause issues including excessive sweating and dryness. Conversely, low humidity levels may result in itchy skin or respiratory symptoms – finding an optimal balance can improve both quality of restful slumber as well as promote healthful living.
Selecting a mattress that supports your body weight, comfort preferences and sleep style is crucial to enjoying restful nights of restful slumber. Mattress firmness plays an integral part in spinal alignment as you rest during sleep – memory foam mattresses, latex and innerspring options can each offer unique advantages; but those designed to regulate temperature and provide airflow should be prioritized for best results.
Mattress materials play an integral part in creating the optimal humidity level sleep environment; certain fabrics wick away moisture while others absorb it, keeping you cool and comfy throughout your night’s rest. Cotton and rayon bed sheets made with breathable fibers such as bamboo keep you drier than synthetic options, making them suitable for humid conditions. A cooling mattress topper in Canada or using air circulation are other effective strategies for decreasing both temperature and humidity levels in your sleep environment.
As buying a mattress is an investment, you should ensure it suits your individual needs before making your purchase. When researching, keep these considerations in mind: trial periods, return policies and warranties may all have a bearing on your decision; additionally you should inquire as to in-home set up and delivery options as this could drastically change your experience if shopping online; reviews from previous buyers provide great insights as to what to expect; compare prices from both in-store retailers as well as online ones to ensure you secure the best value mattress purchase experience.
Bedding
Light and noise discipline tend to take the spotlight when it comes to sleep hygiene; however, humidity also plays a critical role. Studies indicate that high indoor humidity levels reduce slow-wave sleep time and increase night-time awakenings, potentially having serious negative implications on both your physical and mental wellbeing.
To maintain an ideal humidity level for sleeping, select breathable bedding materials like cotton and rayon that absorb excess moisture while you slumber, keeping you cool and dry during slumber. It would also be wise to invest in mattresses designed to regulate temperature and airflow – such as memory foam mattresses with ventilated covers to circulate air flow and minimize sweating.
Indoor humidity levels that exceed normal can create an uncomfortable sleeping environment, preventing you from reaching that state of slumber. Not only can this impact the quality of sleep you experience, but it may also increase the odds that you wake during stage three (the deepest phase) – an essential component in tissue repair, bone and muscle recovery, as well as maintaining a healthy immune system.
Conversely, low indoor humidity levels can dry the skin and respiratory system, leading to discomfort and making breathing harder. Furthermore, such low humidity conditions promote allergen growth such as mold or dust mites which may irritate eyes, nose, and throat during sleep time.
An indicator of low ambient humidity is excessively dry and brittle hair, cracked lips, itchy eyes, as well as musty-smelling rooms that could impair quality sleep.
Finding a balance between humidity and sleeping comfortably can be a difficult challenge in the summer months, but by following these practical tips for controlling humidity and selecting suitable bedding materials you can easily create an environment conducive to restful slumber. Furthermore, be sure to maintain and regularly clean and maintain any humidifiers or dehumidifiers regularly to reduce bacteria growth, mold or mildew build-up in them.
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