Land weighted blankets, also called therapeutic, they can be a valid remedy against stress, anxiety and insomnia. The peculiarity is in the weight, heavier than traditional ones, which allows it to carry out an action of compression very similar to a hug. The benefits? Lowering blood pressure and relaxation of the nervous system.
Weighted blankets, because there’s so much talk about it
Lack of sleep has very negative effects on daily life. Not only mood swings but also drowsiness, lack of concentration, hypertension, as well as a lowering of the immune defenses. To combat insomnia, one of the remedies that is becoming increasingly popular are weighted blankets, also known as therapeutic blankets..
Calls in English weighted blank, these blankets are very particular: «The name suggests that these are blankets with a significantly higher weight than normal ones. These act by arousing the feeling of a tight hug and relieve stress and anxiety, caused by the sympathetic nervous system also responsible for the “fight or flight” mechanism. To counteract this phenomenon, moderate pressure can be helpful because it activates the counterpart of the sympathetic nervous system, i.e. the parasympathetic one, which causes a lowering of the heart rate. Practically, implements the so-called deep pressure therapy which creates a feeling of calm and relaxation» explains the Sleep Expert Theresa Schnorbach of Emma The Sleep Company.
The benefits of weighted blankets are certainly not to be underestimated: thanks to the pressure they exert, «cortisol, the stress hormone, decreases by 31% while serotonin increases by 28% and dopamine by 31%, thus bringing good mood. The result is therefore a lowering stress and improving your mood» explains the expert.
Goodbye insomnia, how weighted blankets work
But it’s not just a matter of stress. These blankets also work by promoting a more peaceful rest, also fighting insomnia: «Some studies have shown that, compared to traditional bedspreads, these work increasing the duration of sleep and making it easier to fall asleep, also reducing night-time movements. All this allows for an improvement in the night-time experience, so that people are more rested in the morning.”
Weight is fundamental but what do these blankets contain?
Pressure therapy implemented under these blankets is possible thanks to the padding they are made of and which varies based on quality, comfort and costs: the most common are steel pearls, glass microspheres, sand, pebbles and grains.
“The steel beads they are very popular for this model because they are rsturdy, machine washable and just the right amount of weight, i.e. requiring fewer units to produce the required weight and pressure. The main disadvantage of steel microspheres is that they are generally noisier of other materials. The glass microspheres instead, they are denser, meaning less filling is required resulting in a thinner blanket, and are also machine washable. In some cases it can also be used sand but it is not particularly widespread because it becomes a problem during washing, compacting. For this reason, after washing, these models rarely return to their original shape. Equally problematic can be i pebbles, simply because they are not comfortable. The ideal solution for sleep is represented by uncooked cereals or dried beansbeing very accessible they are low cost.”
How do you choose?
But when choosing the right weighted blanket, it’s not just the padding that matters, but also the weight itself. In general the blanket must weigh between 6 and 11 kg, specifically it should correspond to 10% of your body weight: the sensation is therefore that it is neither too heavy nor too light on the body.
As with traditional models, also in this case seasonality and the climate of the room apply: in summer the weight of the blanket must decrease as well as it must be lower if the temperature in the bedroom is high. Don’t underestimate that These blankets are also very suitable for children and people with disabilities.
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