Weighted Blanket Benefits
What Do Weighted Blanket Do for You?
Science has proven that good sleep is the key to human health. Sound sleep boosts the immune system and helps fight various diseases.
What do weighted blankets do? They help ensure a good night's sleep. In the colder months, this cozy accessory will be in demand.
Let's find out if this is true. On social media, influential people write a lot about the benefits of weighted blankets. You can find many types of this bedding accessory in solid advertisements. More than 75,000 options have been uploaded to Instagram alone.
So what are the benefits of weighted blankets? First, they have become even fluffier and lighter, and blankets weigh anywhere from five to thirty pounds.
Secondly, these are the kind of blankets that help a person get rid of stress, anxious thoughts and depression while sleeping.
So we will consider how effective they are and who will benefit the most.
The Benefits of Weighted Blankets
There are many skeptics who do not believe in the idea of a magical piece of cloth but there is no magic here. The creation of weighted blankets is based on scientific theory.
Professor Shelby Harris wrote a book, The Women's Guide to Overcoming Insomnia, in which he proved that it is women and the elderly who have a much higher risk of insomnia. He explained that the weight of the blanket creates pressure on the body, which is similar to deep pressure stimulation.
What does a weighted blanket do? It creates even pressure on the body, helps calm and relax the nervous system, and reduces stress and anxiety.
The effect of a weighted blanket can be compared to the pleasant sensation of a hug, as well as the effect when a small child is soothed by being swaddled tightly.
"A person's sleep will be of better quality, they will be able to fall asleep faster if they are in comfortable conditions", says Dr. W. Chris Winter, president of the Center for Neuroscience and Sleep Medicine. In his book The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How To Fix It, Dr. Winter states that "weighted blankets play on the neurological principles that a sense of touch is integral to comfort.
Many people use sedatives to get a good night's sleep but that is not really the right approach. There is no need to overuse medications. It is better to use a weighted blanket. It will give you a good and deep sleep. Quality sleep will give you a good mood, improve your memory and help you to be active throughout the day.
Do Weighted Blankets Really Work?
Nowadays, weighted blankets are becoming very popular among the population. Research on the benefits of this necessary accessory for human health began not so long ago. Well-known psychologists wanted to find out how full-fledged sleep affects the general state of people who suffer from mental disorders. Observations have shown that a comfortable bed, especially weighted blankets, significantly improves the well-being of patients.
Later experts decided to find out how weighted blankets affect the body of healthy people. It is known that about 30% of adults in the world suffer from insomnia. Overwork, daily stress and anxiety also have a negative impact on the person and become a cause of sleepless nights.
Many studies have been done to examine how a weighted blanket affects nighttime sleep quality.
What do weighted blankets do? They help normalize sleep and improve overall body condition. In one study, 68% of participants reported decreased anxiety and improved memory, and 80% found the blankets to be calming.
Observations were made on patients who had a wisdom tooth extracted. After all, such a procedure is also a stressful scenario. Psychologists concluded that the use of weighted blankets markedly reduced their anxiety.
Sleep problems are often associated with mental health problems. For example, children diagnosed with autism or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) usually have impaired sleep. They take a long time to fall asleep. Studies have shown that weighted blankets help them fall asleep more quickly.
Recently, an article was published in the journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine that discussed patients with depression and bipolar disorder. They had been using weighted blankets for a long time. Doctors concluded that they had a marked reduction in insomnia and an increase in daytime activity thanks to this bedding accessory. Dr. Winter noted that weighted blankets are very helpful for people who suffer from "restless leg syndrome". There are many good medications for this condition, but people prefer to use the weighted blankets instead of taking medications. Even healthy people who do not have trouble sleeping enjoy using these blankets. They believe that thanks to this purchase their sleep has become much better.
One study was published in the journal Pediatrics that showed that parents and children diagnosed with autism have a preference to weighted blankets. Not everyone thinks that for children with severe autism, such blankets have little effect in treating the disease but long-term observation by psychologists has proven that the use of a weighted blanket helps to combat the disease. That is why parents buy and use this modern bedding accessory.
Shelby Harris notes that there is not much evidence that the use of these blankets is a proven treatment for insomnia. Many leading psychologists are convinced that this research is promising. Harris says, "If you find that it helps with anxiety, stress and pain, then it may improve your sleep in general".
Who Should Not Use a Weighted Blanket?
Let's find out, who a weighted blanket might not be good for?
Although weighted blankets can do no harm but some limitations you should be aware of before buying one.
Here is the advice Harris gives on the subject, "First, for asthma, sleep apnea and other possible respiratory problems, you should first consult your physician. In the same way it is not recommended without a doctor's advice, to use a weighted blanket for people who suffer from claustrophobia. Thirdly, you should not cover children under two years of age with a weighted blanket".
How to Choose a Weighted Blanket
You must determine for yourself how much blanket weight you need. The heaviest blanket is not always the best solution, because you can always decide which of the options provided is best for you. Harris explains that this can make it difficult to sleep. You do not need to associate your resting place with bad feelings related to stress, anxiety and worry.
If you are concerned about questions such as, "What do weighted blankets do?", "What weighted blanket is right for me?" Harris recommends that you purchase a weighted blanket that weighs up to 10% of your body weight.
Older people should opt for lighter blankets weighing no more than five to eight pounds. This will create the most comfortable sleeping conditions possible. Dr. Winter also recommends opting for lighter blankets if you often feel weak and tired due to Parkinson's disease, stroke, or simply due to age. It is important to feel as comfortable as possible while sleeping and to be able to move freely under the blanket.
Dr. Winter tells us that he has an oversized weighted blanket in his home and it is so heavy and large that when it falls to the floor, he has to expend an enormous amount of effort to pick it up and put it back into bed.
What's more, impressively sized blankets distribute the weight evenly. Using only a third of the blanket, you will not feel the full weight of the cover. A large majority of people will choose to use a smaller size blanket, such as a double bed, rather than a king size.
The next step is the selection of material.
The inner structure of a weighted blanket is in most cases made of glass microbeads or even sand. The outer part also plays a big role. It is very important that the texture be non-scratchy and soft. You can always easily find chenille, fleece or cotton.
Dr. Winter recommends buying a weighted blanket that has a removable cover, like a duvet cover, so you can wash it whenever you want.
There are special fabrics that will help combat overheating and allow moisture to pass through. Dr. Harris advises using special cooling weighted blankets for sleeping if you feel you are too hot under the covers. You can always find blankets with specially designed technology that does an excellent job of resolving this issue.
The Bottom Line on Weighted Blankets
It can take some time to find just the perfect weighted blanket that is right for you. Do not deny yourself the pleasure of enjoying a deep and unforgettable night's sleep.
"If there are people for whom buying a weighted blanket has helped them overcome insomnia or cope with RLS, that's enough for me," reports Dr. Winter.
Comfort, warmth and comfort are so important to all of us. After a quality sleep, we always wake up wanting to make our lives even better, because we feel rested and full of energy to achieve new results!