United States (USD $)
– I’ve set the world to rights, I’ve counted 1227 sheep and said the alphabet backward five times – in French. What else can I do to try to get some sleep tonight?
– “Have you tried a cooling weighted blanket?” – little voice whispers.
– “What are the benefits of the cooling weighted blanket for me?” – I wondered.
Read on to find the Top 10 benefits of Aricove bamboo weighted blankets for adults:
1. Weighted blankets for insomnia
Lying awake at night, trying to get to sleep, is a common problem. According to a study by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania – insomnia affects one in four American’s at any one time, and although 75% recover, it still leads to a massive amount of fatigue and exhaustion.
And interestingly enough, the figures are skewed by where you live. The eastern part of the United States seems to sleep less than the central and western regions.
But interestingly enough, a weighted blanket helps you sleep longer and spend less time lying awake in bed when you should be asleep.
When you move under the weighted blanket, it feels like a gentle caress. This feeling stimulates the release of calming hormones, which reduce stress and anxiety. There are many advantages of a weighted blanket over medications in getting you to sleep naturally.
2. Deeper sleep - the REM cycle
While we sleep our brains continue to work. We sleep in 90-minute cycles. Most people start with a deep sleep then a short REM interval which is when we dream. As the night wears on the periods of REM becoming longer and our sleep lighter.
During REM sleep we dream. Our eyes move (hence Rapid Eye Movement), our muscles relax, so we do not act out our dreams; our breathing increases and our brain is very active. During the REM sleep we process information, detox the brain, and try to make sense of the previous day’s events.
When you are not getting enough sleep it is often the REM part that is lost first. Missing this vital element leads to fatigue the next day, poor memory and loss of skill, and
poor concentration. One of the benefits of a weighted blanket is that
it helps you to sleep the night through without disturbing your sleep cycle and you hang onto the right amount of REM sleep.
3. Your Bedroom Microclimate
Aricove cooling weighted blanket will provide you with your own optimal microclimate. As you snuggle under the soft blanket you can be sure that it has been designed to keep you at the best temperature for sleeping (between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit). Your body temperature naturally lowers for sleeping.
The soft, bamboo material breathes and wicks away moisture – so you are not left in a puddle of sweat when you wake up. You can find more interesting information about Bamboo Weighted Blanket Breathability and Moisture Control.
Bamboo fabric has been proved to be not only excellent in keeping you warm and dry – but it is also antibacterial, anti-static, and hypoallergenic. It is even bio-degradable!
4. Reduce stress and anxiety
There are many health benefits of a weighted blanket, not least in the feeling of relaxation you experience. It gives a deep but gentle pressure stimulation, and your body responds to this by releasing two hormones that act on the brain - dopamine, and serotonin. These have a calming effect that reduces anxiety and stress. It also lowers the level of cortisol, which, if it stays high overnight has deleterious effects on your health.
Serotonin is the precursor of melatonin – our “sleep hormone” and when levels are raised, we sleep better. Additionally, the comfortable safe feeling, the gentle caress of the weighted blanket, makes falling asleep much easier. You can find more detailed information on Weighted Blankets for Anxiety Relief.
5. Enhance mood
There are two ways a weighted blanket can enhance your moods. The first is simply by helping you get a good night's sleep. Being tired can make you irritable and grumpy.
The second is the hormonal effect of Deep Touch Pressure Stimulation. For many years we have known that hugs can boost serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain. These are the two “feel-good chemicals”. And with a good weighted blanket, you will get quality hugs just as you are falling to sleep. The Deep Touch Pressure Stimulation also lowers the level of cortisol, the stress hormone – helping you to relax.
6. Help focus
The use of weighted blankets for therapy first started for children with Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). But both ADHD and Autism affect adults as well as children, and a weighted blanket for adults has a relaxing and calming effect.
If you are studying or working at a desk, and are finding it hard to concentrate, then draping a weighted blanket around your shoulders or across your lap may improve your ability to concentrate.
7. Help with sensory issues
There is a range of sensory issues affecting people with autism. It isn’t just one condition, every autistic person has their unique kind of autism. And for many of them, weighted blanket therapy has proved beneficial.
The calming effect of increased levels of serotonin, and the consequent release of more melatonin, does help to get to sleep. The powerful palliative effect of comfort, a feeling of safety, and also a belief that this will work should not be underestimated.
Weighted blanket therapy started with autism, found to be useful, and went on to expand to many other uses from there. Learn more about the benefits of a weighted blanket for kids and if it is safe to use on toddlers.
8. Ease Feeling Of Pain
Cortisol levels
A key benefit of using a weighted blanket is in the relief of pain. When you are in pain your cortisol levels can rocket. The weighted blanket can be reassuring and comforting - a bit like being hugged, but the more tense and anxious you are the worse the pain feels. Here are two examples where a weighted blanket has helped.
Fibromyalgia
This complex disease that affects more women than men causes chronic muscle, ligament, and tendon pain, and many tender points around the body. One of the most debilitating features is fatigue. Ordinary everyday activities can be difficult and treatment is not always very effective.
The gentle but firm pressure of a weighted blanket can be very soothing. It helps to ease the anxiety these sufferers often experience, and when they manage to get better quality of sleep; it also helps alleviate their chronic fatigue. Then they can cope better during the day.
Toothache
If you are suffering from toothache you will know how unpleasant it is. And most of us feel apprehensive at the thought of extraction. In 2016, a research on the Effects of Deep Pressure Input on Parasympathetic System was carried out to see whether a weighted blanket would help adolescents feel calmer and less anxious before the extraction of their wisdom or molar teeth. Those given the weighted blankets did feel less anxious and apprehensive.
9. Weighted Blanket For Restless Leg Syndrome
It is believed that one in ten people suffer from restless leg syndrome in the USA. It is characterized by an irresistible need to move the legs, together with tingling and discomfort. Often the feelings are worse at night – and it can keep people awake for hours.
A weighted blanket provides a pleasant restriction to the movement and a relaxing pressure. It can be a helpful tool in relieving the symptoms of restless leg syndrome.
10. Luxurious Sleep Comfort
Weighted blankets come in various weights and sizes. Generally, a weighted blanket should be 5-10% of your body weight, which would mean a 15-pound blanket for a 150-pound person. Find out which Aricove bamboo weighted blanket is the best fit for you.
The best weighted blanket would be made from soft and hypoallergenic materials, such as bamboo viscose, and have the certified Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which certifies that there are absolutely no harmful substances in the product. With your Aricove weighted blanket you can definitely sleep feeling safe and protected every night.
Aricove uses bamboo fabric for its weighted blankets – its amazing softness together with its moisture-wicking and breathing qualities means you will get a soothing night’s rest. Together with the natural antibacterial and antimicrobial features, you will find it stays fresh for longer than any cotton blanket. And, of course, you will be able to machine wash and tumble dry your weighted blanket whenever surprises do happen!
All The Benefits To Help Sleep Better
There are many benefits of weighted blankets for adults. They range from the original use for children with sensory difficulties through to the stressed-out adult who finds that counting sheep is not the most effective way to get to sleep. With a variety of weights and sizes, Aricove provides a weighted blanket suitable for most people.
So, do weighted blankets help you sleep? The answer is almost always – yes!
Discover the secret of how Weighted Blankets Can Power Up Your Life in our next blog post.