Is it healthy to sleep with your socks on?
ArabiaWeather - People's opinions vary and their desires to wear socks while sleeping differ, especially in light of the cold weather, where some individuals find comfort and relaxation by not wearing socks, stressing that this contributes to avoiding the feeling of tightness, and brings greater comfort, while others prefer to sleep with socks, as they find It has a way to keep you warm and comfortable during the night.
In this context, questions arise about the extent to which wearing socks while sleeping affects health and can this have negative effects? What are the potential benefits of this habit? These questions raise debate about the validity of each point of view, and point to the importance of understanding the effects of this habit on public health.
Benefits of wearing socks while sleeping
Warming the feet when going to bed is an indication of relaxation, as cold feet affect the body at night, and one of the easiest ways to achieve this is to wear socks of various types, as wearing socks before going to sleep provides warmth to the feet, which promotes quick relaxation of the body.
In addition to their role in warming the feet, socks contribute to moisturizing the heels of the feet and protecting them from dryness and cracking caused by cold.
Wearing socks also helps regulate the body temperature during sleeping hours. In the early stages of sleep, the body temperature changes slightly, and wearing socks warms the outer extremities, which helps maintain the body temperature balance.
In the case of Raynaud's disease, which results from constriction of the arteries due to cold, socks play a vital role in protecting the feet from the harmful symptoms of this disease, as wearing them helps improve blood circulation and prevent its negative effects.
Harmful effects of sleeping with socks
On the other hand, if you are accustomed to sleeping wearing socks, it may be useful to reconsider this habit, according to a report published by the Turkish newspaper “Yeni Akit”. In this report, Dr. Kerem Baykal, a dermatologist, provides an explanation about the possible negative health effects of sleeping, And you're wearing socks.
Although there is no fixed standard for how to sleep at night, as some people prefer to sleep wearing socks, while others prefer to sleep without them, many may be unaware that sleeping with socks may result in some negative health consequences.
It appears that sleeping with socks can have a negative effect on peripheral circulation; Due to prolonged pressure resulting from the elastic bands of socks on the feet, which can impair blood circulation in that area, and cause bruising and dry skin. Sleeping with socks may also lead to the possibility of developing a fungal foot infection due to sweating of the feet and air retention around them. There are additional risks, such as the possibility of skin infections resulting from skin friction with the fabric of socks and possible residues from detergents. Therefore, it is important to take off socks before sleeping to maintain the health of the skin and feet.
In addition, you should pay attention to the quality of socks, as synthetic materials such as polyester, rayon, and nylon can affect the natural breathing of the feet, increasing the possibility of them sweating. You should also avoid using strong detergents when washing socks, as these materials can cause irritation and swelling. It may cause itchy scars.
In the end, experts point out that the body temperature naturally decreases during sleep, and this balance is affected when a person keeps wearing socks for long periods during sleep, which may affect the quality of sleep.
Avoid the harmful effects of wearing socks while sleeping
You must follow some tips regarding wearing socks to avoid their negative effects, and so that they are beneficial to your health while sleeping. The most prominent of these tips are:
- Avoid tight socks.
- Use socks made of cotton; Because it allows the feet to be ventilated and absorb sweat, in addition to its soft texture on the skin.
- It is necessary to change socks regularly, wash the feet well before wearing them, and pickle the toes well to prevent the presence of any fungi that could cause skin problems or an unpleasant odor when wearing socks.
- Make sure to dry your feet after washing them, and before wearing socks.
Following the advice on wearing socks will have many benefits in warming the feet and increasing the ability of blood to reach the extremities, especially when the cold is severe. This will also contribute to giving the body the required warmth and relaxation, so that it can go to sleep peacefully.
Also know:
What is the best temperature for sleeping?
Why is my house so cold, and how can I deal with this?
Sources:
arabiaweather
aljazeera
Browse on the official website