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Sleeping with socks on
Can sleeping with socks on improve my sleep? As we all know sleep is essential for our bodies. It helps reconstruct and heal our brains and muscles after a long day’s work. Warm feet help improve your body’s blood circulation which can help you get a better night’s sleep.
Your body’s metabolism drops typically during the night, causing low blood circulation. Therefore, doing what it takes to be comfy on your bed is crucial.
Usually, people use thicker duvets, spongy mattresses, or steadily heated rooms to avoid cold feet. However, one common way to achieve this is sleeping with socks on.
What happens to your body if you sleep with socks on?
Towards the end of the day, our bodies release a hormone called melatonin to prepare us to sleep. As a result, this drops our core body temperature and makes us fall asleep.
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine (NIH/NLM) Putting socks on speeds up the core body temperature drop and aids a process called distal vasodilation (1). It is the increase of blood circulation on the hands and feet.
This process is also crucial in reducing the body’s core temperature and helps us fall asleep faster.
Sleeping with socks on is not only comfortable but also impacts essential body processes. Studies suggest that that putting on socks may help prevent hot flashes in women (2). Hot flashes are the sudden increase of upper body warmth, usually felt intensively over the neck, face, and chest.
They can constantly interrupt sleep when they occur during the night. Hot flashes are common in women during the menopausal transition, and some find putting on socks to bed helpful.
Studies also show that people putting their socks on are likely to sleep uninterrupted compared to those who do not (3).
Is it ok to sleep with socks on?
Some people find sleeping with socks on a problem. However, a large chunk of the population prefer wearing socks during the cold weather. Others make it a constant habit throughout the seasons.
Whether you choose to put socks on or not during sleep, it doesn’t matter much. It all depends on what helps you get a good nights sleep.
Some people find it uncomfortable to sleep with socks on, so they prefer not to wear socks in bed. But as you set yourself up for bed, it is always essential to make your room warm enough to get a good night’s sleep.
You can use more conventional methods to stay warm in your room. Thermostats are a suitable temperature regulator if you prefer not to sleep with your socks on
Why wear socks to bed?
If you don’t like wearing socks in bed, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if you choose to, then there are a ton of benefits for you.
In addition to sleeping faster and uninterrupted during the night, putting on socks offers these additional advantages:
Healing cracked heels
Wearing 100% cotton socks to bed can be a good remedy for your cracked heels (4). It frustrates many people to have heels marred with deep cracks because it feels uncomfortable.
Other treatments, including soaking feet in warm water or soft closed shoes, may work effectively. However, putting on socks may be a great way to help heal cracked heels.
So, before going to bed, you can moisturize your feet and put on comfortable cotton socks. It helps to prevent your skin from drying out and simultaneously may heel the cracks.
Helps prevents hot flashes
This is common in women, especially in their transitional menopausal stage. Their core body temperatures increase sharply, and they feel a surge in warmth on their necks, faces, and chests. It interrupts sleep during the night.
Therefore, putting on socks helps reduce the core body temperatures, and as a result, hot flashes occur less often (5).
Helps decreases Raynaud’s attacks
They show as swellings and throbs on toes and fingers. A common cause is blood not circulating properly in the body. However, this is not fatal but can make you uncomfortable during sleep.
Putting on a pair of socks can help prevent a Raynaud’s attacks (6). It promotes blood circulation and keeps your feet warm, leaving you comfortable and, of course, sleep well.
Do your feet need to breathe at night?
If you mean regular inhalation and exhalation, then the answer is no. However, the skin needs room to remove accumulated body toxins, putting on socks does not impede this.
Before putting on your socks, exfoliate your feet to remove dead skin that obstructs your pores to allow your feet to ‘breathe’.
Why is it weird to sleep with your socks?
Yes some people find it weird. But whether you find sleeping with socks on weird or not, it all comes down to personal preference and what benefits it may offer you.
Many people find it absolutely normal, considering the benefits it offers. However, don’t let the culture and perceptions around you influence your decision. If you need the benefits, go right ahead, you are not alone.
Is it bad to sleep with socks on?
Not at all. However, if you feel uncomfortable putting on socks before bed, then there is no need to. There are other conventional methods for making your feet stay warm.
You can install a thermostat to help regulate your room temperature. You can also use other techniques, including heating pads or exfoliating your feet to improve blood circulation.
Sleeping with socks on superstitions?
Some superstitions say that wearing wet wool socks while sleeping can cure a fever. Others say that sleeping with socks on can give you nightmares. However there’s nothing to worry about there is no scientific data to support these superstitions.
Is it ok to sleep in compression socks?
Compression socks gently apply pressure to your lower legs. According to professional leg surgeon Dr. Georgeanne Botek, compression socks increase blood circulation in the legs and feet. They help treat different leg conditions such as ‘venous inefficiency’ (7).
Usually, they are prescribed by doctors to patients with peripheral cardiovascular problems. If prescribed by a doctor, the grip of the compression socks are measured to treat rather than worsen the condition.
Is it ok to wear compression socks to bed?
If you have chronic venous inefficiency, deep vein thrombosis, or varicose veins, compression socks can be best for you.
Doctors recommend that you wear them during the day and not necessarily at night. The reason is that they work best when you are moving around compared to when you are stationary (8).
Should I sleep in compression socks?
Compression socks are designed for use by patients having peripheral cardiovascular diseases. A doctor should medically prescribe them before you use them. However, it is common nowadays to see people wearing them without a physician’s approval.
But, they are not recommended for use if you do not have to treat any medical condition (9). Please consult a doctor. Instead, you can find normal socks that best satisfy your needs.
The best socks for sleeping
There are many socks in stores across the country. Amazon offers the best socks to help you prevent cold sleep. Based on customer rating and reviews, here are selected socks best suited for you.
- Men’s Fuzzy Slipper Socks: The good thing about these socks is that you can use them during the day and night. They have a heavy thick fluffy lining for maximum warmth and comfort of your feet. You can find them on Amazon at reasonable prices.
- Men’s Fuzzy Gripper Socks: They provide good grip on your feet so that they do not pull off when you sleep. The grip is great for wearing all day or doing yoga without slipping or falling. They are available on Amazon at affordable prices.
- DYW women’s soft, cute microfiber socks: are plush, with loosely woven microfiber to allow an in-out movement of heat and prevent you from overheating. They are available on Amazon at reasonable prices.
- Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Heathered Men’s Socks: They are made from 97% polyester and 3% spandex. You can find them on amazon in different colors and sizes.
- Fuzzy Warm Slipper Socks: are also made from polyester and spandex, providing maximum cosiness for your feet and keeping you warm and comfortable. You can also find them on amazon at an affordable price.
Socks sleeping tips
Sleeping with your socks on can sometimes be uncomfortable. So, to make the experience fantastic, you can try these tips.
Get the socks with the most suitable material for you
Get the socks with material that makes you feel comfortable. Whether it’s Alpaca wool, cotton, or polyester, you know what makes you feel better.
But be careful some socks do not have the suitable material for allowing good in-out movement of heat and can cause overheating.
Get the socks with the proper grip on your feet
Some socks can be too large barely holding onto your feet, while others can be too small. Choose socks with, gentle grip that hold onto your feet and prevent falling off when you are asleep.
Moisturize your feet before wearing socks
If you want a double-remedy solution; maintaining warm feet and improving cracked heels, a great way is to moisturize your feet. Before putting on your socks, clean your feet and leave a little moisture.
But ensure it does not dampen your socks because that can be uncomfortable for you. It’s also a great routine for treating cracked feet.
Exfoliate your feet frequently
Exfoliating your feet doesn’t require much effort. Schedule a convenient regiment for scrubbing them at least once every week to remove dead skin. This simple process will open up the skin pores on your feet and allow your feet to ‘breath.’
Alternatives to socks
Some people find wearing socks uncomfortable, and sometimes it just isn’t convenient. So here are some alternatives to help prevent cold feet:
Rice socks
A rice sock is a heating pad, where rice is put in a sock and heated in a microwave. Once it reaches the right temperature, you can apply it on your feet to reduce the cold. There are many ways to make a rice sock all over the internet.
Hot water bottle
Hot water bottles work similarly to rice socks. However, this involves putting hot water and applying the bottle to your feet until the cold is gone.
Using a thermostat
You can install a thermostat in your room to help prevent cold feet and find your perfect sleeping temperature. A thermostat regulates temperature, balancing it at a level where you feel comfortable to sleep.
A warm foot bath before bed
If this is convenient, you can take a warm bath before going to bed. This alternative works as good as wearing a pair of socks. Just make sure you cover your feet with a warm blanket to prevent getting cold again during sleep.
Final Thoughts
Should you wear socks in bed? Wearing socks during sleep has many benefits, besides keeping your feet warm. Socks increase your feet’ blood circulation, lowering your core body temperature to help you sleep better.
Whether you use other ways to maintain warm feet, wearing socks during sleep is a great way to avoid cold feet and have a better night’s sleep. If you are having any issues make sure to consult your doctor.