Weighted blankets have become popular recently, and it’s easy to see why. Not only are they warm and comfortable, but they also have many therapeutic benefits, including the ability to help you sleep better by relieving stress and helping your body feel more grounded during sleep. In addition, weighted blankets can be used to alleviate chronic pain and discomfort or calm yourself down when you’re feeling anxious or agitated. If you suffer from any of these conditions, or if you just want to rest more comfortably and sleep better every night, consider getting a weighted blanket today!
What is a weighted blanket?
A weighted blanket is an object specifically designed to be used as bedding. Typically, it’s filled with tiny beads or pellets and can be made from materials like cotton, wool, or synthetic fibers. The idea behind these blankets isn’t new—people have been filling them with sand for at least 100 years—but they are receiving renewed attention in recent years due to their purported ability to make people feel more relaxed. It’s no wonder why: Just one 15-pound blanket can add 150 pounds to your body weight! That extra weight has an added benefit: Pressure. While you sleep, you experience lots of pressure on various parts of your body as you move around; if you toss and turn a lot in your sleep, even light pressure on major nerves tends to wake up lighter sleepers.
How does it work?
A weighted blanket is not too dissimilar from any other blanket, but it’s heavier. And that’s what makes all the difference: A good weighted blanket will contain between seven and 20 pounds of weight distributed throughout its body. It comes down to deep touch pressure stimulation, Dr. Kryger says, referring to that feeling of being held or hugged. What most people don’t realize, he explains, is that we don’t actually need someone holding us in order to experience those feelings; some people do so just by using their pillows while they sleep. That skin-to-skin contact helps you slow your heart rate, lowers your blood pressure—all those things are calming responses because they help lower your levels of cortisol during sleep, which helps you fall asleep more easily and get more restful sleep in general.
How does it improve your sleep?
Studies show that weighted blankets may improve your sleep by relaxing muscles, decreasing anxiety and stress levels, reducing tossing and turning at night, and relieving tension throughout your body. This helps boost melatonin production, which is an important hormone for regulating sleep cycles. Not only do weighted blankets help you sleep more soundly throughout the night—they can also help you fall asleep faster! According to research from Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, even just fifteen minutes under a weighted blanket can significantly reduce stress levels. Getting a good night’s rest improves mood and physical health while boosting creativity during waking hours. If you’re looking for ways to improve sleep quality or enhance relaxation, adding a weighted blanket might be right up your alley!
Should you buy one?
If you’re considering purchasing a weighted blanket, it is worth taking into account some potential benefits. But first, what are they exactly? A weighted blanket is simply one which contains additional weight within its fabric. In theory, your body and brain use these extra pounds to help induce relaxation and ultimately induce sleep. This process works due to something called proprioceptive input, or tactile input that we encounter on a daily basis as we move around and interact with our environment. Our bodies understand where their edges are based off of tactile feedback—the soft brush of skin against cotton sheets feels different than wood against skin. We also can track how much pressure we exert by feeling how firmly our feet connect with floor upon standing up from a seated position. All in all, it is safe to say that even if you never purchase a weighted blanket for yourself, there will likely come a time when you feel them!
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