| Before you can give yourself over to sleep, you | | | | The physiological response to cold is peripheral |
| must be warm in your bed. The comfort and | | | | vasoconstriction or narrowing of the blood vessels |
| reassurance of sleep will only envelop us when we | | | | of the skin. This process serves to keep the core |
| are warm and relaxed. Having warm feet | | | | of the body warm, essential in older people if |
| increases the temperature of the whole body, | | | | they are to avoid hyperthermia. |
| inviting sleep. | | | | Our internal temperature should be about 37 |
| Hot water bottles are the quickest, most | | | | degrees, but if that level of body heat is not |
| effective foot warmers there are, superior in | | | | maintained, confusion, and worse, may occur. A |
| many ways to microwavable socks which don't | | | | warmer bed is the easy and economical answer. |
| hold the heat for as long. Microwavable slippers | | | | Take several hot water bottles to bed. Use them |
| have the same problem; they don't hold the heat | | | | as foot warmers, body warmers and bed |
| and are much more expensive. The other | | | | warmers. Try covered hot water bottles; the |
| downside of microwavable socks and | | | | insulation provided by the cover will ensure that it |
| microwavable slippers is that they will go soggy | | | | remains warm long after you have fallen asleep. |
| with repeated use now that isn't very suitable! A | | | | Warm feet promote the rapid onset of sleep. |
| hottie will keep you warm for many years. Keep | | | | Using a thermoplastic hottie is the answer. Keep |
| warm, keep well. | | | | warm, keep well. |