Is There Any Medical Truth That One Could Die From Sleeping On A Cold Cloth During The Summer?

Posted on Wed, 4 Jul 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 4 Jul 2018 Answered on

Wed, 9 Feb 2022 Last reviewed on

Question : In the summer when its hot I like to walk around shirtless with a cooling cloth around my shoulders all day. I was told that it could be deadly because in my country in extreme hot temperatures some people have been known to die when sleeping with cold wet cloths on their bodies. Is there any medical truth to this?

Answered by Dr. Malik (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It is a myth that cooling clothes may cause death when sleeping on it.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Tissues and organs in the body function best when the temperature is about 37 °C. It is a normal body temperature. Regardless of the environmental temperature, the body tries to keep the normal body temperature.

In hot weather, the body starts sweating to increase heat loss by evaporation. If the environmental temperature too high the body may get overheated causing a heatstroke. If the environmental temperature drops below 37°C the body conserves the heat and increase heat production.

Now back to the question: cooling cloth (wet cloth or towel around the neck) or specially designed cooling gadgets will help your body to keep the normal body temperature either you are sleeping or awake. It is a myth that cooling cloths may cause death when sleeping with cold wet cloths on the body. There is no medical or scientific basis for that.

Wet cloth around your neck helps you to stay cool. Just avoid the direct sunlight and ensure to drink plenty of fluids.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee