How to deal with sleep problems during heatwaves: practical recommendations from the European Insomnia Network
Journal of Sleep Research. 2022-09-08; :
DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13704
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Altena E(1), Baglioni C(2)(3), Sanz-Arigita E(1), Cajochen C(4), Riemann D(2).
Author information:
(1)UMR 5287, Institut de Neurosciences Intégratives et Cognitives d’Aquitaine,
Neuroimagerie et Cognition Humain, CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux,
France.
(2)Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical
Center, University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
(3)Department of Human Sciences, University of Rome ‘G. Marconi’, Telematic,
Rome, Italy.
(4)Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric University Clinic, Basel, Switzerland.
Heatwaves are occurring more frequently and are known to affect particularly night-time temperatures. We review here literature on how night-time ambient temperature changes affect body temperature and sleep quality. We then discuss how these temperature effects impact particularly vulnerable populations such as
older adults, children, pregnant women, and those with psychiatric conditions. Several ways of dealing with sleep problems in the context of heatwaves are then suggested, adapted from elements of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, with more specific advice for vulnerable populations. By better dealing with
sleep problems during heatwaves, general health effects of heatwaves may be more limited. However, given the sparse literature, many links addressed in this review on sleep problems affected by temperature changes should be the focus of future research.
© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Sleep Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Sleep Research Society.