True Impact Of Sleeping With A Space Heater On

First, there’s the matter of safety, which actually depends on the kind of space heater you’re using. They all function differently, you see — just to confuse matters. Infrared heaters work in a similar way to the sun in that they radiate heat through rays. Convection heaters, on the other hand, use currents to warm the air in the room.

Then, of course, there are fan-motored heaters. They work in a similar way to the fans people use in the summer — but in winter, they circulate warm air. If you’re fancy, you may even have one that does both. And last but not least there are panel heaters, which function like radiators. So instead of pumping out air, they have a panel that warms up and gives off heat into the room.

All of these will do a great job of heating your bedroom before bed. But should you leave them on overnight, that’s the question? Generally speaking, infrared and ceramic heaters are the safest on the market. Some even come with built-in timers, and others contain sensors that detect whether they’ve fallen over — bumped into by a pet, perhaps. So it sounds like it’d be okay to have these on while you sleep, right?

Well, the general advice is not to leave any space heaters running throughout the night. The statistics speak for themselves, really. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 80 percent of annual house fire deaths in America between 2014 and 2018 were as a result of moveable or fixed space heaters. And that isn’t all.

The organization found that space heater fires were mainly caused because they’d been placed near flammable objects such as bedding, clothing, or mattresses — all things you’d find in the bedroom, we might add. The recommendation, then, is to leave any potentially flammable items at least three feet away from the heater when it’s in use.

But what happens if you fling the blanket off in your sleep? It could well happen if you become too hot in the night. Should the quilt land on the space heater, it’d likely be a disaster. Though if we’re honest, these little heaters don’t need to go up in flames to do damage. Just running one overnight could actually be bad for your health if you aren’t careful.

Depending on what fuel they’re using, some space heaters give off carbon monoxide. And if your bedroom gets overloaded with this dangerous gas, you may start to become poisoned by it. Symptoms to watch out for include headaches, dizziness, and sickness. And in very serious cases, your brain may even become starved of oxygen.

We should say that this is very rare. And the only space heaters that give off carbon monoxide are those that burn some form of gas or combustible fuel. But still, even if the warming device is working as it should, having it on overnight will make for a less-then-ideal sleeping environment.

Being all toasty while you snooze sounds like it’d be great for your health. But did you know that there’s actually a perfect temperature that we should be sleeping in? Yep, experts say that when we settle down for the night, our bedrooms should be roughly 65°F. And there’s a key reason for this.

Throughout the night, the temperature of our body naturally fluctuates. It’s all to do with our built-in rhythms and how we respond to the different times of the day. When the sun goes down, for example, we tend to get cooler, preparing for sleep. And during the morning, when it starts to get light, we warm up. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it.

The normal temperature of the human body is about 98.6°F. But to get ready for sleep, it can decrease by a good 2°F — all on its own, we might add. That’s right: during the evening, our brain gets to work lowering our body temperature. It makes blood go to our feet and hands so that we lose heat more quickly. But, of course, having the heating on at night can interrupt these natural body-cooling processes.

And that can have a big impact on our health. The likelihood is that being tucked up under the duvet and having the heating on will prevent your body from losing the crucial couple of degrees we need to have a restful night’s sleep. The problems will probably begin not long after you get into bed.

You’d think sleepiness and warmth would be the perfect recipe for drifting into a slumber. But in truth, you’d probably find it easier in a cooler bedroom. Your body’s programmed to cool down for sleep, so if you’re in a warm environment, it’ll have to work extra hard. Ever wondered why you toss and turn when you’re too hot in bed? That’s your body trying to lose heat! And even if you eventually get to sleep, the issues may continue into the night.

Why? Well, being warm at night also has an impact on the quality of your sleep. Part of the reason why our bodies decrease in temperature at bedtime is so that we can get into the deepest form of sleep. When we’re in this form of sleep, which is called REM, our normal temperature-controlling processes stop — sweating and shivering, for example. So the body has to prepare for this stage of the night beforehand.

With these cooling processes on standby, a room temperature of more than 65°F could cause you to overheat and then wake up — pulling you out of the deep sleep that’s crucial for maintaining good health. It’s this kind of sleep, you see, that allows the brain to filter information, refresh our body cells, reset our moods — and the list goes on.

Not enough time spent in the deepest form of sleep may leave you feeling groggy and under-rested the following day. But there’s more. For those who get into a habit of keeping the heating on at night and therefore sleeping in an overly warm environment, tiredness could be the least of their health worries.

“Mood often suffers with sleep deprivation, as does the attention span,” sleep expert Dr. Sujay Kansagra told Bustle back in 2019. “Other areas of health that are affected include heart health, immune function, and appetite regulation.” All of these things are important, of course. But now more than ever we need strong immune systems.

Getting enough REM sleep’s essential for our immune systems. When we’re dozing, our bodies get to work making the blood cells that are key to staying fighting fit. Interrupted sleep caused by a warm sleeping environment can hinder these important functions and so make us more susceptible to getting sick.

And you know how we said deep sleep allows our brains to process new information and organize our memories? Well, when we say memories, we aren’t just talking about the usual kind, such as what you had for breakfast or where you left the car keys. Turns out, our immune system can remember things, too.

Experts think that when we’re asleep — and particularly during deep, REM sleep — our immune system gets to work storing information on the nasty bugs and viruses that we’ve come into contact with. The idea is that if we come across one of them again, the body will know how to fight it. Pretty awesome, right?

So, you can imagine how detrimental a lack of slow-wave sleep could be for the mind and body. And what might lead to people getting less of it? Yep, you got it: sleeping with the heating on. But you should know there are also more noticeable and instantaneous side effects of being too warm in bed.

Sleeping in a stuffy room may lead to dehydration. At night, we naturally lose moisture. We breathe, we sweat — though not in REM. The hotter the temperature of your room, the more you’ll sweat and the more dehydrated you’ll be. And if the body’s without sufficient fluids for a long time, your health will bear the brunt of it.

Dehydration will make you listless — and that’s on top of the tiredness felt from not achieving enough time in REM. You may also find that your concentration levels drop and your ability to remember things is hindered. And, what’s more, your skin will likely appear dull and blotchy. Oh, yes, dehydration and sleeping in warm conditions doesn’t just wreak havoc on the inside of your body.

It can bring about a plethora of skin conditions, in fact. “Many find their skin is drier in the winter, and there’s no doubt central heating plays a part in this,” dermatology specialist Dr. Simran Deo informed Yahoo U.K. “It dries out the air, causing the moisture in your skin to evaporate quicker, making it feel drier.”

And anyone with skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis will be particularly sensitive to the effects of sleeping with the central heating on. Moisturizing and drinking water will help prevent the skin from becoming too dry, though. Of course, so will reducing the temperature of your bedroom at night. Dr. Deo was also quick to point out other reasons why this is a good idea.

“As well as dry skin,” the doctor explained to Yahoo, “[a warm bedroom at night] also dries out the mucus membranes that line your lips and sinuses, leading to chapped lips, a dry nose — making you more susceptible to nosebleeds — and a dry throat — which can feel sore or make your voice hoarse.” And this can also encourage a particularly annoying sleep habit: snoring.

Having a dry nose and throat can cause swelling, making it more difficult for air to reach the lungs. And this, in turn, brings about snoring — which isn’t pleasant for either you or your partner. Thankfully, not going to sleep with the heating on could be an easy solution.

If your teeth are already chattering at the thought of this, don’t worry. There are options. You could throw another layer on, for a start. Or you could invest in a thicker quilt and another blanket. And what about having a hot water bottle? Naturally, you’re probably wondering if this will merely have the same negative impact on your body during sleep. You’ll still be warm, after all.

Well, apparently, as long as some parts of you are outside the duvet, your body will be able to get to the ideal temperature for sleep. “Just make sure your head is exposed to the cooler temperature,” says sleep science coach Ashley Little. “Or avoid tucking the covers in to get better airflow and disperse your body heat.”

And, contrary to what you’d perhaps expect, having a warm shower before bed may also aid temperature regulation during the night. “A hot nighttime shower can help you fall asleep,” Dr. Kansagra explained. “Because it artificially raises the body temperature for a short period of time, so that when you step out of the shower, you experience a rapid drop in temperature. This temperature drop can help get you snoozing in no time!” So, snuggly room fans, all hope isn’t lost.