Some people swear by a cool flannel. Others pop their pillow cases in the freezer. And more still are spending hundreds of pounds on portable air conditioning units. But there’s one method to help you cool down and sleep during this relentless summer of heatwaves that is so counterintuitive you’ve likely not tried it yet. How about a hot bath before bed?
Yes, it may sound mad. Surely an icy shower would be a better way of cooling off before hitting the sack? The answer to that question is a resounding “no”, according to science. Even though it might feel nice at the time, “if the water is too cold, the skin blood vessels constrict, preventing dissipation of heat from the skin and delaying cooling,” says GP Dr Deborah Lee.
