Getting a good night's sleep is challenging enough when you are in unfamiliar quarters. Adding a significant change in the climate only exasperates the issue. By learning how traveling to different climates affects the quality of sleep, you can prepare accordingly.
Calm, Cool, and Collective
Your body temperature plays a critical role in sleep. When your body prepares for sleep, the internal temperature should decrease. As you get warmer, your body starts to wake up. Therefore, if you live in a cooler climate, or at least optimize your room for the chilly air, traveling to a warmer climate will affect your sleep quality.
Whether packing for business or pleasure, you must bring your cooling sleep aids along. Those who sleep with a fan regularly might not sleep a wink if they have nothing to cool them down. Most people's optimal temperature is anywhere between the high-60s to the low 70s, but everyone has their preferences.
Most Don't Like It Hot
Although chilly temperatures make sleeping easier, the sweltering summer air seems to have the opposite effect.
There's a reason why everyone takes a shower immediately after working out; it's difficult to relax if you're hot and sticky. But an elevated temperature can inhibit your body from falling into a deep sleep.
Besides the obvious methods of air conditioning and fans, one way to prevent your body from running hot is not eating close to bedtime. Your body heats up as it's digesting food, so you will want ample time for your dinner to settle before calling it a day.
You've Been Thunderstruck
Residing in an area that rarely gets a thunderstorm can shake someone to their core if they hear a rumble. Any loud noises that aren't familiar to a person’s ears could jolt them from a deep sleep. However, steady and gentle rainfall can lull anyone to sleep.
If the forecast calls for severe thunderstorms, the best thing you can do is try to drown out the noise. White noise machines, apps on your phone, or wearing an eye mask are a few alternatives that can calm your nerves if lightning makes you apprehensive.
Adjusting Your Internal Clock
It takes time for your body to adjust to a change in time zones. Typically, jet lag lasts a few days, so going from Eastern Standard Time to the West Coast can throw your internal clock out of whack. With it being sunny at 7:00 p.m. in California, you might have trouble staying awake if it feels like 10:00 p.m. because you're a Boston resident.
These time changes are even more problematic when daylight savings approaches. Luckily, eliminating daylight savings has bi-partisan support. The government wants to eliminate it by 2023.
Traveling to different climates can affect your sleep if you don't make the proper adjustments. Adding sleep apnea to the equation further muddies the waters, so please consider these travel CPAP machines for sale from CPAPnation. Travel CPAP machines are often full-featured units suitable for treating sleep apnea for the consummate traveler. Join CPAPnation's e-mail list today for an exclusive discount!
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