Study Shows Bedroom Temperature Impacts Heart Health in Older Adults

Nighttime bedroom temperatures can influence heart health, particularly for older individuals.

Dr. Fergus O’Connor from Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, noted that higher temperatures place additional strain on the cardiovascular system.

When the body gets warm, blood circulation increases to the skin to cool down. However, this heightened demand on the heart can lead to stress and hinder its recovery from the previous day’s heat exposure.

The goal of the research was to investigate how actual bedroom temperatures affect older adults’ cardiovascular health.

The team studied 47 participants, averaging 72 years old, residing in southeast Queensland.

This was a “free-living” study, contrasting with many sleep studies conducted in clinics; participants maintained their usual activities and sleep routines.

Over the Australian summer, from December to March, scientists monitored the participants, who wore advanced fitness trackers that recorded their heart rates between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Sensors in their bedrooms collected data on body temperature, leading to over 14,000 hours of sleep data.

The threshold for when heart rate began showing signs of distress was just above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Results indicated that at temperatures between 75 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit, the chance of a significant drop in heart recovery increased by 40%. The odds doubled between 79 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and exceeded three times the risk when temperatures soared above 82 degrees.

Dr. O’Connor suggested that maintaining a bedroom temperature of about 24°C (75.2°F) can lower the risk of increased stress responses during sleep for individuals aged 65 and older.

Despite a strong correlation between heat and cardiac stress revealed by the study, researchers cautioned that their observational nature does not establish heat as the only cause.

This research specifically involved older Australians and may not extend to other demographics.

Although the wearable tech used is advanced, it’s important to note that they’re not as precise as clinical-grade ECGs.

Dr. O’Connor pointed out that there is a lack of guidance on optimal nighttime temperatures, unlike the established recommendations for daytime indoor conditions.

The findings were published in BMC Medicine.