Cold feet at night are a familiar complaint for many adults in their 50s, 60s and beyond. So is lighter, more interrupted sleep. The habit of pulling on socks before bed keeps turning up in doctor interviews and viral posts as a simple fix. Sleep specialists say there is a real reason it helps some people, and real reasons others should think twice before trying it.
Here is what the evidence shows about warm feet and sleep, along with the safety concerns that matter most if you live with diabetes, nerve problems or poor circulation.
How socks and body temperature are connected at bedtime As bedtime approaches, your core temperature begins to drop. That shift is part of the circadian rhythm that signals drowsiness, according to Cleveland Clinic . The body sheds that heat partly through the hands and feet, Dr. Yoel Green, a sleep medicine physician and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Healthcare, told Everyday Health .
Dr. Leah Kaylor, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in trauma and sleep, told Newsweek , “The bottoms of your feet contain specialized blood vessels that regulate heat. These vessels can quickly release heat b...