The benefits of a weighted blanket are numerous, and the science behind them is fascinating. Did you know that deep pressure stimulation can help those with anxiety? That it can help people with autism stay focused? And that they even improve sleep quality for everyone? If these things sound appealing to you, then keep reading! Letâs look at how a weighted blanket improves sleep and health.
In this blog post we discuss what weighted blankets are and how they work, as well as why so many experts believe in their impact on wellness.
What you will learn
What are weighted blankets?
Weighted blankets are a type of blanket that uses weight to provide deep pressure touch therapy. The weight is distributed evenly throughout the blanket.
What are they made of?
The type of fabric varies depending upon use: acrylic fibers are used for adults. Cotton/polyester blend or wool may also work well with children because they resist pilling better than other fabrics.
How a weighted blanket improves sleep and health?
- sleep
- anxiety
- stress relief
- autism
Improves Sleep
How these blankets improve your sleep is by providing deep pressure touch stimulation.
Weighted blankets are a great solution for people with restless leg syndrome, as well those who suffer from insomnia and other sleep-related disorders such as ADHD or PTSD because they help the person stay in one place instead of constantly moving around during the night. This leads to less tossing/turns throughout an entire nightâs sleep (and eventually better overall health).
Can a weighted blanket help children sleep?
For kids â
- A decrease in cortisol hormone production rates mean they will not be feeling as stressed out about any problems at home/work or school with this decreased rate so, therefore, should improve their mental well being enough for them to get better grades, etc.,
- Improved ability to focus while studying because it promotes relaxation rather than anxiety like some people have when concentrating hard before taking an exam.
How does it help insomnia?
The positive effects from weighted blankets also assist people dealing with insomnia.
In a study conducted by the Harvard Medical School, subjects who were tested on sleep quality levels while using this type of therapy showed an improvement within their data.
The Stanford Sleep Center also found similar results with participants in these studies and noted that they would continue to examine how weighted blankets can be used as âfirst-lineâ treatment for people suffering from chronic insomnia.
Reduce Anxiety
Anxiety is yet another disorder that these weighted blankets can help with. These blankets can provide deep pressure touch stimulation to make you feel relaxed. Also, those who suffer from panic attacks have reported having fewer episodes when using a weighted blanket during sleep time (which is why itâs so important for people suffering through these types of anxiety disorders).
The idea behind this type of weight therapy has been around since Hippocrates. Interestingly, more recent studies in medical journals showed that there was an improvement in symptoms such as pain managementâparticularly among cancer patients undergoing treatment or rehabilitation after surgery
Stress Relief
These blankets have attributed to lower cortisol hormone production rates, which lead people to feel less stressed out about everything going wrong at home/work, etc.,
Further research has shown that weighted blankets can lead to reduced stress levels and improved moods.
Weighted blankets help you feel calm during stressful times by offering a deep pressure touch experience on your bodyâs âbrakesâ which is where we find our sense of safety; helping us relax more quickly.
Cortisol hormone
Cortisol hormone is produced by our brain to help us cope with stress.
Weighted blankets can lead to improvements in insomnia and reduced levels of cortisol, so your body doesnât feel as stressed during the day, which helps you sleep better at night!
You may experience feelings like a deep sense of safety from feeling weighted down- itâs perfect for those who suffer anxiety when trying to make their way back into bed after being woken up prematurely by nightmares/night terrors. Theyâre also great if waking-up is hard, because any type of discomfort such as pain( due to injury experienced while sleeping) will be gone once again thanks to this added pressure on the body that creates increased blood flow leading. This will create more energy than before.
Can it assist with autism?
While it has been known for some time that weighted blankets can provide a calming effect, recent studies have shown the therapeutic effects extend to autistic patients. Often the benefits are shown when in conjunction with applied behavior analysis therapy.
The gentle pressure of these types is said to help children relax their muscles while improving sleep quality at night. It helps by decreasing anxiety levels during rest periods where they are not disturbed during deep REM Sleep.
Conclusion
To summarize, the use of weighted blankets provide calmness and a sense of security. They improve sleep quality by decreasing anxiety levels. You will be less disturbed during deep REM slumber (REM Sleep). These blankets also reduce stress-related behaviors which tend occur in autistic children with ADHD.
Purchasing your own weighted blanket is easy! Youâll need first to know what size you want: most manufacturers provide options between Twin XL â King XXL;
Stay safe. Stay Healthy!