Struggling to sleep in the heat? Expert advises sleeping in DAMP socks

Many people try to stay cool overnight during a UK heatwave using fans and lighter bedding. Sleep expert Dr Deborah Lee recommends wearing slightly damp cotton socks to bed to trigger evaporative cooling and lower core body temperature. She says feet strongly influence the body’s temperature regulation, so keeping them cool can help the whole body. She also suggests placing a hot water bottle filled with cold water in the freezer for about 15 minutes before bed to cool the bed linen. For showers, she advises taking a lukewarm shower about an hour and a half before sleep to start the natural temperature drop, warning that a cold shower right before bed can be counterproductive. She also mentions an “Egyptian method” used for centuries.

"“Wearing a pair of slightly damp cotton socks to bed can help us bring our core body temperature down through a process called evaporative cooling.”"

"“Our feet play a huge part in helping our body's temperature regulate, so keeping them cool is vital and has a knock on effect on the whole body.”"

"“Fill your hot water bottle up with cold water and put it in the freezer for around 15-minutes before bed, and you'll be getting into bed with cool linen rather than a dreaded heat trap.”"

"“Shower before bed, but around an hour and a half before bed rather than just before. A lukewarm shower will help kickstart the natural temperature drop that your body needs to fall asleep.”"

Read at Mail Online