Although that may not seem like much, researchers found a much sharper effect when they looked at the risk of insufficient sleep.
On warmer nights, the likelihood of sleeping less than six hours increased by about 40 percent.
Sleep is ‘essential’ for good health
Sleep deprivation has been linked to depression, mood swings, cardiovascular disease and reduced cognitive function.
The findings show that heat-induced sleep loss affects people of all ages and backgrounds across different regions and demographics, she said.
How to secure sleep
The obvious methods include air conditioning, fans, breathable bedding, and leaving windows open to let in a breeze. It can also be useful to close windows and blinds that face the sun during the day to prevent the bedrooms from heating up.
“Urban design, housing and public health strategies such as the use of heat-resistant housing designs and urban cooling strategies, such as green roofs, tree planting and reflective building materials, could help,” he said.
Disproportionate consequences for less prosperous population groups
As a result, lower-income populations were likely underrepresented.
Last year, an analysis by the Australia Institute found that extreme heat poses a greater threat to the country’s suburban and rural areas, where vulnerable populations – including the elderly, those with chronic health conditions and those on lower incomes – are more concentrated.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that extreme heat remains the leading cause of weather-related hospital admissions in Australia.
Looking to the future
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