Study Links Bedroom Temperature to Heart Stress

Researchers find higher bedroom temps above 75°F can increase heart rate and strain.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A small study in Australia found that people with bedroom temperatures higher than 75 degrees Fahrenheit experienced increased stress on their hearts and cardiovascular function. The study gave 43 participants fitness trackers to monitor their heart rates while sleeping, revealing that higher temperatures force the heart to work harder to circulate blood and cool the body, creating additional strain.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that consistently sleeping in hot bedrooms could have negative long-term impacts on heart health, especially for those already at risk of cardiovascular issues. However, the study was limited in size and scope, so more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between bedroom temperature and heart health.

The details

The observational study from Griffith University in Australia gave 43 people fitness trackers to wear while they slept. Researchers found that people with bedroom temperatures above 75°F experienced higher heart rates as their bodies worked harder to circulate blood and cool down. "When the human body is exposed to heat, its normal physiological response is to increase the heart rate," explained researcher Dr. Fergus O'Connor. "The heart is working harder to try and circulate blood to the skin surface for cooling. However, when the heart works harder and for longer, it creates stress and limits our capacity to recover from the previous day's heat exposure."

  • The study was conducted in 2026.

The players

Dr. Fergus O'Connor

A researcher at Griffith University who led the study on the relationship between bedroom temperature and heart health.

Dr. Ashish Sarraju

A cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic who commented on the study's findings, noting that it makes sense that sleeping in a hot room would be a stressor on the body.

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What they’re saying

“When the human body is exposed to heat, its normal physiological response is to increase the heart rate. The heart is working harder to try and circulate blood to the skin surface for cooling. However, when the heart works harder and for longer, it creates stress and limits our capacity to recover from the previous day's heat exposure.”

— Dr. Fergus O'Connor, Researcher, Griffith University (kdvr.com)

“If you're exposed to that night after night, you're not really getting good sleep, you're sweating more, you're getting more dehydrated, the heat is so high that it's sort of challenging your body's capacity to cool itself down. It makes sense that all of these things are possibly harmful.”

— Dr. Ashish Sarraju, Cardiologist, Cleveland Clinic (kdvr.com)

What’s next

Researchers plan to conduct a larger study with a control group to further investigate the relationship between bedroom temperature and cardiovascular health.

The takeaway

While more research is needed, this study suggests that consistently sleeping in hot bedrooms could put additional strain on the heart, potentially leading to long-term negative impacts on cardiovascular health. Maintaining a comfortable, cool bedroom environment may be an easy way to support heart health, especially for those already at risk of heart disease.