More and more people are struggling with sleep issues, especially as climate change continues to affect daily life. But scientific research is working to better understand and solve the problem.
Fabien Sauvé, a researcher at Paris Cité University, explained that scientific interest in how heat impacts sleep has increased in recent years. A 2024 study, as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP), specifically examined how hot environments affect sleep quality.
A 2022 study published in One Earth found that humans lost an average of 44 hours of sleep per year during the first two decades of the 21st century, largely due to global warming.
Another study, led by Kelton Minor from the University of Copenhagen, projected that by 2099, individuals could lose 50 to 58 hours of sleep annually. The research shows that heat directly affects the brain, especially the neurons that regulate sleep, leading to sleep disruptions.
To reduce the impact of heat on sleep, Sauvé recommends: