Five reasons you should not wear socks to bed

To many, sleeping with socks when the feet are cold is normal and the only way to get a comfortable sleep.

Well, sleeping with socks is actually not a bad idea; in fact, it may help get you to sleep faster.

This is because temperature regulation is a necessary part of the sleep cycle.

Several studies have shown that the elderly who wear socks in bed got to sleep faster.

Having your socks on can also help lower the chances of Raynaud's attack, a condition that affects the blood vessels in the skin.

Attacks usually happen when a person is feeling cold or stressed. Here, blood flow to the toes and fingers is reduced hence starting to throb or swell.

There are, however, five logical reasons from various studies why sleeping with socks at night is neither healthy nor a good habit. 

It is believed to disrupt the sleeping pattern and at the same time heart rate.

High blood pressure

According to Pritam Moon, a consultant physician at Wockhardt hospital in India, wearing socks while sleeping is known to increase blood circulation but it can go another way too.

Moon says blood flow decreases if you keep your socks on for a very prolonged period of time.

If you have cold feet, it is recommended that instead use a hot water bottle and once your feet are warm enough you can remove it.

Raises body temperature

Wearing socks while you sleep can cause overheating especially if you wear socks that are made of unbreathable fabric, it might raise your body temperature even when you are not sleeping.

It won't let you sleep peacefully

Wearing tight socks can make you feel uncomfortable and hinder your sleep. Thus, it's best not to wear socks before you go to bed.

Poor hygiene

Wearing socks while sleeping can increase the risk of poor hygiene. If your socks are too light, not clean or made of unbreathable fabric, it increases your chances of infection and odors.

"If you are the type of a person with sweaty feet wearing socks at night might not work for you because your feet will not breathe properly," moon said.

Increased risk of skin infection

The physician argues that wearing socks made out of nylon or other material that does not suit the skin can increase the risk of having infections.

Physicians are of the idea that if you want to get your feet warm, you either take a bath one or two hours before bedtime, wear a warm foot bath before bedtime, sleep with a blanket over the foot of the bed or a wear a warm pair of slipper before getting into bed.