21 Jun , 14:51
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Why we sleep poorly in summer: cardiologist reveals unexpected causes of seasonal insomnia
The arrival of the summer season brings an unexpected problem for many – sleep disturbance. Cardiologist and somnologist of the medical center "SM-Clinic" Natalia Zolotareva explained to "Lenta.ru" why hot nights become a real challenge for our body.
According to the expert, the main factor provoking insomnia in summer is the disruption of the body's thermoregulation. "The human brain needs to lower the internal body temperature by approximately 0.5-1 degree to enter deep sleep. A hot environment interferes with this natural cooling process. The body simply cannot 'shed' excess heat, and sleep becomes shallow and interrupted," explained Zolotareva.
The Russian physician also noted that summer insomnia can be caused by hormonal imbalance.
"The sleep hormone melatonin is better produced in cool and dark conditions, while stuffy summer nights, especially in the city where it's bright from streetlights even at midnight, suppress its production. With a lack of melatonin, the brain doesn't receive a clear signal that 'it's time to sleep'," emphasized Natalia Zolotareva.
The somnologist added that the increased duration of daylight also negatively affects sleep quality by disrupting the body's circadian rhythms. Additionally, the physical discomfort from heat itself can become a serious obstacle to proper relaxation and falling asleep.
