Expert reveals method to help you sleep during a heatwave

While the temperature drops a little, it is still sometimes too hot to get a good night’s sleep.

You might use a fan throughout the night, but it can cause your energy bills to rise.

A clinical psychologist has shared a method that should help cool you down right before bedtime that does not use as much energy.

Running your wrists under cool water can help bring your body temperature down. (Image: Getty)

What is the pulse point method?

Pulse points are found on your wrists, ankles, the back of your neck, your temples, inner elbows, and backs of your knees.

They are areas where your blood vessels are close to the surface of your skin so they are easier to chill and lower the rest of your body temperature.

Dr Amanda Mwale, clinical psychologist at the Good Sleep Clinic, said: "Creating good conditions for sleep isn’t just about the practical tools we use, but also helping our body and brain to feel safe enough and ready to switch off.

"The practice of cooling pulse points can create an immediate sensory cue that signals comfort and relief.

"This redirects our attention and helps interrupt the cycle of feeling hot, uncomfortable, and frustrated about not sleeping.

"When there’s a heatwave, simple rituals like these can offer us a gentle sense of agency over our environment.

"This can help reduce the mental struggle that can make it harder to drift off to sleep."

All you have to do is cool down the pulse points by doing things like soaking your wrists and ankles in cool water.

If you leave your wrists and ankles without drying them, the water will evaporate and help remove any heat from your body.

You could also use a water spray to wet your pulse points.

The water should not be freezing cold, as this can cause your blood vessels to constrict and lock in the heat in your body.

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You could also use a cold compress wrapped in a towel and place it on your pulse points to cool them down.

You do not need to cover or wet every pulse point to cool down but dampening your wrists and ankles can help you sleep in the summer.

Will you be testing out the pulse point method to help you sleep? Let us know in the comments.