“It tells your brain it’s time to sleep.”
Posted: January 20, 2025 10:00 AM CST
If you have trouble falling asleep, try wearing socks. This advice comes from Boston-based pediatric and sports physician Dr. Jess (@doctorjesss on TikTok).
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Dr. Jess has over 1.3 million followers. She clarifies that she is not providing medical advice on her account, but rather sharing her views and educational content. Dr. Jess details the benefits of sleeping in socks in one of her newest and most talked-about videos.
In the video, which has been viewed more than 306,000 times, Dr. Jess begins, “So let’s talk about people who sleep in socks.”
“Wearing socks warms your feet, which dilates your blood vessels and cools you down. When your body gets cold, it signals your brain that it’s time to go to bed,” she continues. And, according to Dr. Jess, people who sleep in socks “tend to fall asleep faster.”
The Daily Dot reached out to Dr. Jess via TikTok comments and direct messages.
Is Dr. Jess’s video rocking a no-socks sleeper?
Various reactions were received from viewers.
One viewer wrote, “I can’t sleep without socks lol. I need socks.”
“I have insomnia and can’t sleep without socks. I always feel very restless without them,” agreed another.
On the other hand, many people said they could not sleep with socks on. They noted that the socks made them feel “squeezed” and “claustrophobic.”
“I can’t breathe with socks on in bed lol,” one viewer said.
“Does your body get cold if your feet are warm? Please explain that to my body. Warm feet make your body too hot and miserable,” another person wondered.
Does wearing socks to bed really help you fall asleep?
According to cleveland clinicDr. Jess is right.
“Warming your feet opens up your blood vessels and helps cool the rest of your body,” says sleep behavior disorder expert Michelle Drerp, P.D., Ph.D. explain. “Therefore, increasing blood circulation to the feet lowers core body temperature. It seems counterintuitive, but that’s exactly what happens.”
Wearing socks to bed will not only help you fall asleep better, but it will also help you sleep better at night.
It can help people who suffer from insomnia. of sleep foundation It has been found that if people with insomnia put on socks and warm their hands for 20 minutes before going to bed, their symptoms will be reduced and they will sleep better. However, elderly patients with insomnia reported no difference in sleep quality. Therefore, age could potentially make a difference.
Are there any negative effects?
moreover, Good R If you have circulatory problems such as diabetes or peripheral artery disease, it is recommended that you do not wear socks to bed. Blood flow is restricted, which can lead to swelling, infection, delayed healing, and pain in the feet and legs.
Choosing the right socks is essential, as loose, clean, and light socks can affect the quality of your sleep.
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