NHS Doctor Explains Why You Should Wear Socks When You Sleep

An NHS doctor who happens to have 2.3 million followers on TikTok has made a short video explaining why it is important for people to wear socks in bed.

OK, so many people will find this uncomfortable and unusual, but there is - apparently - some decent reasoning and actual science behind it all.

Dr Karan Raj, who has amassed quite a following with his bitesize pieces of medical wisdom, explained: "You need to start sleeping with your socks on, and here's why.

"Wearing socks to bed increases the blood circulation to your feet this causes your blood vessels to vasodilate - they widen.

"When the blood vessels widen they can get rid of heat much quicker because of the much bigger surface areas.

"This allows your core body temperature to cool down at a faster rate than normal, and a lower core body temperature is needed for optimal sleep.

"If you want better feet, cover your feet."

Righto, there you have it. Who is taking their socks to bed this evening, then?

It's not just Dr Karan who reckons that wearing socks when you try to go to sleep is a good thing, either.

The National Sleep Foundation - the American one, at least - reckon that having cold feet in bed is not great for drifting off, too.

We can all get behind that, surely. No-one wants to lie in bed with freezing toes, there's no chance of a good night that way.

However, they have offered some other tips to get yourself a decent night of sleep without having to endure the ignominy of wearing nothing but your socks - if that is how you choose to sleep.

You could get yourself a hot water bottle and stick it at the end of the bed, or you could wrap extra blankets and duvet around the bottom part of the bed to make sure your toes are toasty throughout the night.

Or, you could buy some ridiculously extra footwear to wear in bed, like something made from cashmere or similar material rather than just wearing the same old socks you've had on all day.

Oh, and if you're really interested, there are other benefits to keeping your feet warm at night, including stopping hot flushes, improving cracks in the heels by stopping feet drying out, and - believe it or not - increasing potential for orgasms amongst women.

Seriously, there's scientific evidence that backs it up.

Socks at night it is, then.

Featured Image Credit: Pexels

Topics: Science, Interesting, Weird, Health

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim