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Ty Ferguson, University of South Australia and Carol Maher, University of South AustraliaTossing and turning on sweltering summer nights? You’re not alone.
As temperatures rise due to climate change, our sleep is becoming shorter and more disrupted.
But it’s not just the heat keeping us awake – climate change creates multiple challenges to our nightly slumber, which may be affecting our health.
What happens when we don’t get enough sleep?
Sleep isn’t just rest – it’s vital for our health.
Adults need at least seven hours per night to maintain cognitive function, memory and emotional balance. Poor sleep immediately impacts mood and attention, while chronic sleep issues increase risk of diabetes, obesity, depression, heart disease and even premature death.
So, how is climate change impacting our sleep?
1. Overnight temperatures are rising
Our circadian rhythm – that internal biological clock – requires our internal body temperature to drop at night for quality sleep. The ideal room temperature for sleep is 15°C to 19°C.
Rising outdoor temperatures make this body temperature increasingly difficult to maintain, especially for those without air conditioning. Paradoxically, widespread air conditioning use further contributes to climate change by using fossil-energy, which creates...
