Are Weighted Blankets Worth the Hype?
Highlights:
- Weighted blankets are effective in the alleviation of physical and emotional symptoms
- These blankets have been proven to be effective for various diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and anxiety. They can assist to relax a restless body, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep problems
- When selecting a weighted blanket for yourself, go for a snug fit that is roughly 10% of your body weight
There are various simple techniques to improve your sleep quality, such as avoiding daytime naps and avoiding caffeine, but there are other bedroom improvements to consider, notably weighted blankets.
What Are Weighted Blankets?
Weighted blankets are therapeutic blankets that range in weight from 5 to 30 pounds. The added weight's pressure simulates a treatment known as deep pressure stimulation or pressure therapy.Does a Weighted Blanket Improve Sleep?
While a weighted blanket will undoubtedly make you feel cozier in your bedroom, it also has other benefits that will not only contribute to a better night's sleep but can also aid with a variety of health issues.Top 8 Advantages of Using a Weighted Blanket
Alleviates anxiety symptoms:
Many people suffer from anxiety, a mental health issue that affects around 275 million people worldwide. Fast heart rate and rapid breathing are two frequent symptoms that might be alleviated with a weighted blanket. It relaxes the autonomic nervous system and enhances feelings of well-being.
Encourages deep sleep:
Over 35% of Americans receive less than seven hours of sleep every night, and nearly half of the population reports feeling weary between three to seven days per week. Weighted blankets can help with the challenges of insufficient sleep in the same way that they help with anxiety, by relaxing the heart rate and allowing you to settle into a deep sleep. Furthermore, they apply deep pressure stimulation, which raises melatonin levels, also known as the sleep hormone.
‘Weighted blankets have become an important element of many people�s stress alleviation and healthy sleeping routines. According to research, weighted blankets may aid people suffering from anxiety, autism, and insomnia, among other disorders.’
Reduces your stress response:
Obesity and renal disease are only two of the health concerns that can result from an overactive sympathetic nervous system, which stimulates our fight-or-flight reaction. Deep pressure stimulation with a weighted blanket works to calm nerves and lessen physiological stress levels, thereby averting these potentially serious health conditions.
Pain relief:
One in every five Americans suffers from chronic pain, which includes headaches, arthritis, and back discomfort. Sleeping with a weighted blanket has been proven to relieve pain; a recent study of 94 chronic pain sufferers discovered that the mild pressure from a 15lb weighted blanket alleviated their symptoms.
Aids in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and dementia:
Some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and dementia include difficulties sleeping owing to agitation. Weighted blankets can be used as a non-drug option for dementia and Alzheimer's patients because they encourage relaxation by relaxing nerves and reducing anxiety. In addition, a recent case study found that employing a weighted blanket reduced nighttime wandering, hallucinations, and emotional disturbances in an Alzheimer's patient.
Reduce the number of seizures:
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, affecting 5.1 million people in the United States. Relaxation techniques can be used in conjunction with epilepsy medication to lessen the frequency of seizures. One of these approaches is to use a weighted blanket, which has deep touch pressure and hence reduces stress. However, it is crucial to highlight that some types of epilepsy make you more prone to seizures while you are deeply relaxed, so please contact a doctor.
Cortisol levels are reduced:
Cortisol, the stress hormone, has been related to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, weight gain, and high blood sugar, therefore it's critical to maintain levels low when possible, which a weighted blanket allows you to do. Deep pressure has been shown in studies to lower cortisol levels and boost serotonin synthesis.
Improves your mood:
Weighted blankets can increase one's mood in addition to helping with mental problems and pain relief. The pressure of a weighted blanket boosts the creation of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone, which, when combined with a drop in cortisol, works to improve your overall mood.
Source: Medindia
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Dr. Trupti Shirole. (2023, January 30). Are Weighted Blankets Worth the Hype?. Medindia. Retrieved on Jul 07, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/news/lifestyleandwellness/are-weighted-blankets-worth-the-hype-210298-1.htm.
MLA
Dr. Trupti Shirole. "Are Weighted Blankets Worth the Hype?". Medindia. Jul 07, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/news/lifestyleandwellness/are-weighted-blankets-worth-the-hype-210298-1.htm>.
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Dr. Trupti Shirole. "Are Weighted Blankets Worth the Hype?". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/lifestyleandwellness/are-weighted-blankets-worth-the-hype-210298-1.htm. (accessed Jul 07, 2024).
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Dr. Trupti Shirole. 2023. Are Weighted Blankets Worth the Hype?. Medindia, viewed Jul 07, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/news/lifestyleandwellness/are-weighted-blankets-worth-the-hype-210298-1.htm.