Edmonton may be known for its freezing winters, but our summers can be just as extreme. In fact, many people suffer from insomnia during the hot summer months. Here’s everything you need to know about summer insomnia, and what you can do about it:
Why You Can’t Sleep
Our circadian rhythm is responsible for keeping us awake during the day and putting us to sleep at night. In the process, it regulates functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. It is triggered by many factors, two of these being outside temperature and light. Being diurnal creatures, our circadian rhythm feels that heat plus light equals daytime, thus we should be awake. July and August in Edmonton bring nearly 18 hours of sunlight each day. Combine the ubiquitous sunlight with the scorching heat and your circadian rhythm starts to bottom out. This causes restlessness, along with difficulty falling and staying asleep.
The Ideal Temperature
Because of these conditions, it is obvious that your body needs a cool and dark space in order to experience optimal sleep. The general consensus is that the ideal room temperature for sleep is between 18-22 degrees. Not only does this make for the best environment to fall asleep, it actually helps to increase the quality of REM sleep. So you’ll feel like you actually got a good night’s rest.
Cool It Down
There are a few different ways to keep cool in the summertime. Some homeowners will set up a bed in their basements, others will wipe themselves down with a wet cloth before crawling under the sheets. However, there’s another solution that can save your sleep at the mere push of a button; air conditioning. With an air conditioning unit, you can program your thermostat to maintain an ideal temperature throughout the night. No more tossing and turning, just a great sleep.
With the best high efficiency units on the market, we can find the perfect system to fit your needs and your budget. Don’t spend the best months of the year only half-awake, set up you and your family for sleep success! Call the experts at Nor-Can Heating and Air today at (780) 934-4328!
