As the UK heats up with a weather warning of 34C for some areas, in Edinburgh things aren't looking quite as muggy.
However, although temperatures may be sitting at a more modest 22C for the capital over the weekend, many of us will still struggle to get a good night's sleep as a result of the warmth.
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Although we may reach for fans and freeze water bottles to cool ourselves down, according to science, a hot bath could actually be the solution this heatwave.
Ahead of the heatwave, bathroom expert, Dominic Lees-Bell from Drench.co.uk explains, “We recommend taking a hot bath to cool down during a heatwave. Many look at buying expensive fans or freezing hot water bottles, but one of the simplest ways to cool down is to actually take a hot bath."
He explained that their bizarre advice was actually set in science: “Taking a cold shower or bath can actually be counterproductive as when our body is submerged in extremely cold conditions it tries to regulate our core temperature. This means you could actually feel hotter than you did before you tried to cool down.
“By taking a hot bath we are able to drop our body temperature as it stimulates our bodies thermoregulatory system. This increases the circulation of blood throughout our body and results in the removal of body heat and therefore a decreased body temperature."
Previous research from the National Sleep Foundation also suggests that this method works in heatwaves. Its online guide suggests that some people “do better taking hot showers and hot baths when the room temperature is very high”
Our body temperature is lowest while we are sleeping, and according to the US National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute a hot bath is a great idea before bed as “the drop in body temperature after the bath may help you feel sleepy, and the bath can help you relax.”
