There have long been debates about whether one should wear socks to bed. Based on various studies, we've come up with a list of pros and cons of sleeping in socks. Check them out before you decide whether to have your socks on or not.
1. Helps To Fall Asleep Faster
According to Medical News Today, warming up your feet with socks can make your blood vessels dilate, helping to release heat through your skin, and lowering your core body temperature, which ultimately gives your brain a clear sleep signal. After receiving the signal, you will feel drowsy and go to sleep faster than usual.
2. Improve Temperature Regulation
When you first fall asleep, your internal temperature starts to drop 1-2°F from the average of 98.6°F, and then reaches its lowest point at 4 a.m. In this case, wearing socks to bed can help your body regulate its temperature better, allowing you to sleep more comfortably.
3. Enhance Sleep Quality
Since the regulation of body temperature is linked to sleep quality, wearing socks to bed can also improve your sleep quality. According to researchers Yelin Ko and Joo-Young Lee, people who wear socks at night tend to sleep 32 minutes longer, are 7.5 times less likely to wake up suddenly, and sleep 7.6% more efficiently than those without socks.
4. Improve Overall Health
Since sleeping in socks improves your overall sleep quality, it indirectly enhances your physical and mental health. The most significant benefits of good sleep are emotional stability, higher productivity at work, stable blood pressure, and a lower risk of diabetes and heart disease.
5. Relieve Raynaud's Symptoms
If you have Raynaud's disease, your hands and feet often get cold and numb due to circulatory problems, which can affect the amount and quality of sleep you get. Under this situation, it's best to wear socks at bedtime, as it dilates the blood vessels and warms your feet, thereby relieving Raynaud's symptoms and improving sleep.
6. Decrease Hot Flushes
Women during menopause find it difficult to fall asleep because of menopausal hot flushes that affect body temperature control and lead to excessive sweating and palpitation. In this case, wearing socks to bed can help, as it reduces sweating and sudden fevers, lowering your core body temperature and making it easier to fall asleep.
7. Improve Cracked Heels
Sleeping with socks on is one of the best cures for dry heels. If you're bothered by cracked feet and heels, you can try applying lotion before bed and then wearing cotton socks to keep your feet moisturized at night.
Besides all the benefits, there are also some risks of wearing socks.
8. Cause Overheat
It is also essential to be aware of overheating your feet while wearing socks during sleep. If it is too warm, wearing socks can lead to excessive foot temperature, sweating, and even odor problems.
9. Lack Of Hygiene
It's thought that wearing socks for long periods of time, especially tight ones, can cause bacteria to build up on the feet, increasing the risk of infection. If you happen to have a foot injury, it's best not to wear socks overnight or to wear cotton socks that are breathable.
10. Not Recommended For Certain People
According to a 2019 article for Healthline, while sleeping in socks has many benefits, it's best to avoid them if you have circulation problems, as it can severely limit blood flow to the legs and feet. For children, it's also better not to wear socks that are too tight at bedtime because their circulation is not as well developed.
Source: buzzfond.com