There’s nothing more frustrating than lying awake in bed, gazing at the ceiling while knowing full well you need to be alert to tackle the day in just a few hours, yet you simply cannot drift off to sleep. Numerous factors can disrupt our sleep patterns, from a poor diet and stress to underlying health conditions. If you find yourself trapped in a cycle of restless nights, this expert guidance might offer you a desperately needed remedy.
Donning socks to bed frequently sparks debate, but one doctor maintains that it could assist your slumber if you slip a pair on. In a post shared on Instagram by the Washington Post, Dr Trisha Pasricha offered her recommendations.
She explained: “Wearing socks to bed is an easy, natural way to fall asleep faster. Warming up your feet is scientifically shown to induce drowsiness and it is just as effective as many over-the-counter sleep medications.”
Expanding on this, the internal medicine physician and Harvard Medical School instructor revealed: “Decades of studies have investigated this phenomenon.
“The idea is that warmth dilates the blood vessels in your skin and actually helps cool your core.”
She also recommended that immersing your feet in warm water for 10 minutes, or enjoying a shower approximately an hour or two before bedtime can similarly promote sleepiness.
“These tricks can help you fall asleep 7 to 10 minutes faster,” she concluded.
Responding to the post, one person remarked: “Omg… I knew there was I reason I liked to wear socks to bed.”
One individual who swears by wearing socks to bed stated: “It works – I put bed socks on for about 15 mins when I first get into bed – then take them off when I finish reading and lights out.”
Another chimed in: “I feel validated! I just started wearing fuzzy socks and it works for me. Love your posts.”
“It is good for my body, sometimes I do it,” commented another. “Socks always help me sleep,” added a different user.
Yet another shared: “I wear socks every night, even though I live in a hot climate.”
However, not everyone agreed. “When I put on socks while sleeping I feel like I can’t breathe,” one person confessed.
Another declared: “I’ll never wear socks to bed. Feels like I’m wearing shackles.
“That’s just horrible,” another added. One more said: “No way. I can never fall asleep wearing socks. I don’t even like blanket on my feet.”