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The first results of this mattress developed by American researchers are convincing. Participants reduced their time falling asleep by 58%.
Do you have trouble sleeping? Of the researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have the solution! These scientists have developed a high-tech mattress that promises a good night’s sleep. This would contain a heating and air conditioning system inside as well as a cushion disposed of the same system. This technology would then make it easier to fall asleep.
The researchers point out that the neck is an important body thermostat for humans, and it is the main sensor targeted by the heated mattress and pillow. That’s why this mattress was developed to simultaneously cool the core areas of the body while warming the neck, hands and feet, increasing blood flow to dissipate body heat. These same scientists had previously published a meta-analysis in 2019 in which they explained how the fact of taking a hot bath an hour or two before sleeping helped to sleep better and faster.
Target areas that control heat dissipation
To carry out this new study, 11 volunteers used two types of mattresses, one that regulates the temperature with water, the other with air. The researchers asked them to go to bed two hours earlier than usual to make it harder to fall asleep. They had to activate the heat control system some nights and others not. This heated mattress project is similar to this previous study but meets a more specific need. By lowering the body’s internal temperature at the right time of the circadian rhythm, the brain receives a signal that it is time to go to sleep.
Targeting important body sensors in the few areas that control heat dissipation, and therefore body temperature level, makes more sense than focusing on the whole body.
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Sleep time reduced by half
The results are also convincing:Study participants fell asleep 58% faster when the heat control function was activated. They also report having slept better. “It is remarkable how a slight warming along the cervical spine sends a signal to the body to increase blood flow to the hands and feet to lower core temperature and hasten sleep.“said Kenneth Diller, co-author of the study. “This same effect also allows blood pressure to drop slightly overnight, with the added benefit of allowing the cardiovascular system to recover from the stress of maintaining blood flow during daily activities, which is very important for health. long-term”, he concludes.