Live data from Hacker News

Why Do We Sleep Under Blankets, Even on the Hottest Nights? (2017)

atlasobscura.com

121–130 of 195 posts

Re: Why Do We Sleep Under Blankets, Even on the Hottest Nights? (2017)

#121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Definitely. You know when you get an x-ray at the dentist and they put that lead blanket over you? I love that thing. I wonder if they make those in a king size...

Would probably weigh more than your entire bed :)

Probably! On the plus side you'll be shielded from radiation while you sleep!

Re: Why Do We Sleep Under Blankets, Even on the Hottest Nights? (2017)

#122
Well, this is complicated. One of the linked studies shows the opposite result claimed in this article. This article says:

"About 60 to 90 minutes before a usual bedtime, the body starts losing core temperature. There’s a physiological explanation for that: when the body is heated, we feel more alert. And conversely, when the body cools down, we tend to feel sleepier. Cooler internal body temperatures are correlated with a rise in melatonin, a hormone that induces sleepiness. A bunch of doctors tested this out by making people wear skinsuits—they kind of look like cycling outfits—that dropped their body temperature just a touch, one or two degrees Fahrenheit, to see if they’d sleep better. They did."

But when I look at the linked abstract, it says:

"By employing a thermosuit to control skin temperature during nocturnal sleep, we demonstrate that induction of a mere 0.4 degrees C increase in skin temperature, whilst not altering core temperature, suppresses nocturnal wakefulness (P"

It's worthing noting that the abstract disagrees with the article in two main dimensions: it's only a small change in surface skin temperature, not core body temperature; and the abstract says it's a temperature increase, not a decrease.

Re: Why Do We Sleep Under Blankets, Even on the Hottest Nights? (2017)

#123

I found the serotonin thing very interesting. I regularly wake up at night with new very negative interpretations about social interactions and intentions. I've wondered where those ideas come from. Maybe the super low serotonin levels provide this misery for me.

There's such things as "weighted blankets." Maybe try? Not endorsing or recommending. I've never tried, probably never will. Just an FYI.

Re: Why Do We Sleep Under Blankets, Even on the Hottest Nights? (2017)

#124

Well, this is complicated. One of the linked studies shows the opposite result claimed in this article. This article says: " About 60 to 90 minutes before a usual bedtime, the body starts losing core temperature. There’s a physiological explanation for that: when the body is heated, we feel more alert. And conversely, when the body cools down, we tend to feel sleepier. Cooler internal body temperatures are correlated…

I know I experienced the first of those quoted effects.

Every quarter I do a 1500km drive(or actually 3000km given that I drive back and forth), which is now split into two days, but that wasn't always the case - I used to regularly spend 20h+ driving.

Anyway one thing I learned from this is how to recognize if you're likely to fall asleep at the wheel soon: you get cold, even if you weren't before.

Re: Why Do We Sleep Under Blankets, Even on the Hottest Nights? (2017)

#125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not reading it because I don't sleep under a blanket on the hottest nights - can't relate.

I provide an explanation for why I'm not reading it, and you vote me down. Remarkable.

It's very healthy to read things we don't relate to. This is sometimes referred to as "learning".

Re: Why Do We Sleep Under Blankets, Even on the Hottest Nights? (2017)

#129

It's a weight thing for me, and not a warmth thing. I crave the feeling of something on me when I'm sleeping. Probably a sense of security. I've been on the eternal hunt for something heavy weight, and low heat. Currently using 3 x varying weights of knit cotton blankets, and does the job.

Definitely. You know when you get an x-ray at the dentist and they put that lead blanket over you? I love that thing. I wonder if they make those in a king size...

Look up gravity blankets.
Post reply on HN