Why the temperature of your home could be making you sick

 The not-so-cool facts about this summer heat

Is the heat of your home making you sick? Image: iStock

Feeling the heat? Here’s how your home's sizzling temperatures could be cramping your style (and health!) 

Ah, the Aussie summer. A season of beach days, barbecues, and, let's be real, some seriously sweaty nights. We've all been there—tossing and turning, looking for that cool spot on the sheets and wondering if it's socially acceptable to stick your head in the freezer. 

But what if those hot, sleepless nights do more than just turn you into a coffee-dependent zombie the next day? According to a recent study, your home's temperature could play a bigger role in your health than you think.

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and the First Nations Clean Energy Network worked together on a survey that shed light on a hot topic affecting all Australians, especially those hitting a rough patch financially or socially. 

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The study by ACOSS found that a whopping 80 per cent of Australians live in homes that heat up like mini saunas in the summer. Sixty-one per cent of those feeling the heat are on income support, and a big chunk of them reside in social housing or private rentals. 

And, spoiler alert, it's not doing wonders for their health. Fourteen per cent of them are seeking medical help for heat stress. For First Nations participants, that number jumps to 25 per cent. 

The symptoms? They include headaches, heat rashes, breathing difficulties, nose bleeds, dehydration, nausea and vomiting. And if you struggle with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart or vascular conditions, emphysema, or even anxiety and depression, the heat can even make those conditions worse. 

Every Australian knows a hot sleepless night. Image: iStock

And let's not forget sleep, or lack thereof. A shocking 94 per cent of people polled said the heat is hijacking their Zs on those balmy nights.

The Sleep Foundation says the ideal temperature for sleep is 18.3 degrees Celsius, but given soaring temperatures across the country, it's no wonder Aussies are struggling to keep their bedrooms cool, and are suffering from those extended periods in excessive heat.

But here's the kicker: as the mercury rises, so do the energy bills, leaving many to sweat over their finances and soaring temperatures. With 60 per cent of respondents saying it is hard to pay their power bills and 25 per cent saying they have energy debt, it's clear this is a hot topic that needs cooling down.

“People experiencing financial and social disadvantage are the most severely, and most persistently affected… but lack the choice or control to stay safe,” said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie. 

High temperatures can cause headaches, heat rashes, breathing difficulties, nose bleeds, dehydration, nausea and vomiting. Image: iStock

So, what's the solution? Goldie wants to see a cool change in the May budget. Think energy-efficient homes, rooftop solar panels, and a boost in JobSeeker and income payments. Because when the going gets hot, Australians need the tools to keep their cool, literally and figuratively. 

So, the next time you're lying awake, fanning yourself with last month's electric bill, remember you're not alone. And a change is hopefully on the horizon. Because staying cool is more than just a comfort, it's a health necessity. 

Originally published as Why the temperature of your home could be making you sick