The Many Benefits of Weighted Blankets

Weighted blankets are hefty blankets often used for therapeutic purposes, such as relieving anxiety and stress. They have become available to anyone who needs help with improving their sleep or treating specific health issues that they may have. The right weight for the blanket should be 10 percent of your total body weight plus an additional pound or two, and they come in all sizes, designs both for children and adults. The benefits of sleeping under these are countless, and we will list a few among many advantages of weighted blankets over the regular ones.

They can help treat insomnia.

Anyone who has ever experienced insomnia knows how much the countless sleepless nights can interfere with your everyday life. It is caused by the elevation in cortisol level, which disrupts your sleep. Research has shown that a form of therapy called deep touch pressure stimulation promotes serotonin release and, which is another chemical responsible for sleep regulation. Weighted blankets provide a firm but gentle touch with therapeutic properties, resulting in a decrease of cortisol level and an increase in feel-good hormones called dopamines.

They reduce anxiety

Cortisol is also called the stress hormone, and it is produced when we feel nervous, anxious, or irritated. Anxiety disorders can have a tremendous impact on our lives, from mildly interrupting our sleep to having severe sleep disorders. It has been proven that the use of a weighted blanket before particularly stressful events may help calm the nervous system down, resulting in lowering anxiety levels. They put your nervous system into "rest mode," canceling the effects of anxiety, such as shortness of breath or accelerated heart rate.

Stress management

You don't have to have a chronic stress problem to feel the adverse side effects of it. One bad day at work or a single argument in a day can potentially have a highly negative impact both on your mental and physical health. Weighted blankets are here to help you fight back. Many weighted blanket reviews point out that deep touch pressure stimulation therapy contributes significantly to relieving stress symptoms and preventing crisis states in people of all ages.

Improves focus

Lack of focus is one of the most common signs of attention-deficit hyperactivity syndrome (ADHD). Some people with ADHD have trouble completing a task, while others are prone to impulsiveness. Deep touch pressure stimulation that weighted blankets offer has been shown great for addressing mood swings and sleep disorders in both children and adults who have ADHD. Providing the feeling of security through the blanket's weight can help them become more focused on the task at hand. You can, therefore, opt-out to use these heavy blankets during the daytime as well if needed.

Ease fibromyalgia pain

Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic, idiopathic pain and is usually called "silent disease" because many sufferers don't get the diagnosis on time. Certain drugs may help patients manage their symptoms, but there is no cure for it. Many patients with this chronic illness have found comfort from the use of a weighted blanket. It is known that the pressure of a weighted blanket plays an essential role in preventing fibro flare-ups. It also helps break the cycle of anxiety and depression that often accompanies this illness.

Ease symptoms of restless leg syndrome

Patients diagnosed with restless leg syndrome usually describe it as a creeping and tingling feeling running up and down their legs, mostly during the night. As symptoms tend to happen more frequently during sleep, it can lead to insomnia and other sleep disorders. Some suffer say that the symptoms often lessen when they have something heavy pressing down against their legs. This is what a weighted blanket does. Many people also use compression socks, but they can be too tight and uncomfortable to wear for long periods. 

Improves sleep quality

Not everyone who experiences sleep problems has insomnia or suffers from anxiety or depression. For some people, fatigue is simply the result of low sleep quality that usually comes from not having the right amount of sleep or having a bad sleep routine. One way to improve your overall sleep hygiene is by using weighted blankets. One study showed that using a heavy blanket prevented the participant from moving around, thus providing a night of restful sleep.

Even though a weighted blanket was initially designed to help those with sensory disorders, more and more people turn to it, considering the many benefits. Hopefully, this article will give you a better picture of how those heavy blankets can improve your overall mental and physical health and convince you to try it out yourself.

Here are some other articles related to your search:

• What Are Compression Socks And How Are They Useful

• A Guide to Buying the Best Basketball Socks

• Perfect Gifts for the Cycling Enthusiast