A weighted blanket: what is it?
A blanket that has weights inserted into it is called a weighted blanket. According to some, they ought to weigh roughly 10% of the person’s body weight. They usually weigh between five to thirty-five pounds, which is a significant amount more than standard blankets. A filler material sewn into quilted pockets within the blanket adds the necessary weight. Some blankets might be made from thick cloth, have tiny glass beads or thin metal chains weaved into them. To get acclimated to the strain, it might be advisable to begin with a lighter weight. Additionally, before using a weighted blanket, see your physician if you have a chronic health condition or impairment that makes lifting big weights difficult.
How are they operated?
Typically, the purpose of the additional weight in a weighted blanket is to provide a certain type of pressure termed “deep pressure stimulation,” which is also occasionally referred to as “deep touch pressure stimulation.” ordinarily, it’s meant to trigger the same touch receptors in the body as are ordinarily triggered by cuddles or hugs. Rather of being sensitive to light touches, these nerves usually react to consistent, even pressure. Most people agree that autism advocate and animal researcher Temple Grandin invented the idea of deep pressure stimulation. Grandin observed that cattle frequently appeared less fearful when their sides were gently compressed by a “squeeze chute” while she worked in slaughterhouses and stockyards. She wanted to know if the same procedure may ease the pain brought on by her worries about anxiety disorder-related sensory processing. She created a “hugg machine” and found that it did, in fact, encourage rest and give her a stronger sense of wellbeing.
How can anxiety decrease with deep pressure stimulation?
Weighted blankets have a less expensive mechanism that could produce a sensation comparable to Temple’s idea. It is not necessary to actively squeeze in order to apply forceful, continuous pressure when additional weight is distributed over or wrapped around the body.
Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
It seems that deep pressure stimulation works by triggering the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Normally, this network of neurons, glands, and hormones regulates physiological functions like rest and digestion. This approach is sometimes referred to as “rest and digest.” The feeling of a light squeeze could be interpreted by your body as a signal of safety, which could lead to an increase in parasympathetic nervous system activity. The sympathetic nervous system’s (SNS) activity may decline as a result of this increased activity. When you’re nervous or excited, the SNS gets involved, causing your heart rate, breathing rate, and sweating to increase and your blood to flood with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. The parasympathetic nervous system helps you relax by suppressing your “fight-or-flight” reaction when you are not in danger. Penn Medicine states that the “autonomic nervous system is put into’rest’ mode by the pressure of weighted blankets, reducing some of the symptoms of anxiety, such as a quickened heart rate or breathing.”
Do blankets with weights lessen anxiety?
According to neurological study, an overactive sympathetic nervous system may be the cause of chronic anxiety. You might become too sensitive to feelings of danger as a result of this. A blanket could calm this overactive fear reaction by sending your body a sense of protection.
Analyzing the findings
Does this hypothesis have support in the research? Relatively few research have been conducted to yet to answer this subject. Based on the available evidence, they may be beneficial for certain mental health issues. While further research is probably needed, a 2018 review of the literature on this topic found some support for the theory that “weighted blankets may be an appropriate therapeutic tool in reducing anxiety.” According to a more recent study, these blankets may reduce anxiety in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy (published in 2020). This shows that they may benefit those whose anxieties are connected to real, pressing concerns about their well-being in addition to treating anxiety disorders.
Associated health advantages
Weighted blankets might not only directly lower stress levels but also have a few other advantages. For instance, some users claim that they lessen panic attacks; however, this claim has not yet been supported by controlled trials. According to some research, using a weighted blanket may make it simpler for people to sleep soundly, particularly those who suffer from mental health issues. Reduced anxiety is typically linked to improved sleep, in addition to many other advantageous health outcomes.
Are they useful to anyone?
Research indicates that practically all adult users of weighted blankets can safely use them. According to a safety investigation, weighted blankets weighing up to 30 pounds had no discernible effect on vital signs; bigger weighted blankets were not tested. Retailers of weighted blankets might advise selecting one that weighs no more than 10% of the user’s body weight, however this might be more of a comfort recommendation than a safety one. If using a blanket like this worries you about your health, get in touch with your doctor.
Are children safe to use weighted blankets?
Nationwide Children’s Hospital warns that infants younger than a year old may suffocate on weighted blankets. Certain product manufacturers warn against allowing children under four to use items without an adult’s supervision. Make sure your child is strong enough to remove the weighted blanket off of themself before attempting to help them with it, and stay in the room to supervise. Weighted blankets don’t seem to pose a problem to older users. Research demonstrating the benefits of weighted blankets was carried out in assisted living facilities. For those who have heart or breathing problems, the safety level might be different. It could also be beneficial for older folks to see a doctor before wearing a weighted blanket. It’s also important to remember that feeling heavy could make some anxiety disorders worse rather than better, such as intense concerns of being confined or smothered. But according to at least one study, after switching to a lighter-weight variant, people whose claustrophobia was triggered by weighted blankets experienced no more problems.