Perhaps, almost all of us can say that one of the best feelings in the world is snuggling under a comfy and cozy blanket. Isn’t this one of the habits we have since we were young, that we‘re most likely never going to outgrow?! ?
The trend for blankets grew even bigger when weighted blankets were discovered! For decades, these “hugging” blankets have been known to calm children with behavioral, mental or anxiety disorders!
But what brought weighted blankets back to their soaring popularity in recent years? ?
Many people report improvements in their mental and emotional well-being, as well as their sleep quality, with the help of weighted blankets. Conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, stress, mood problems and even restless leg syndrome, are all “covered” by weighted blankets! For this reason, the number of weighted blanket enthusiasts is growing. ?
Interestingly, weighted blankets show an impressive potential for women in menopause too. Aside from the ones we have mentioned above, weighted blankets have more to offer for midlife health — AND IT MIGHT JUST MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOU!
Eager to know more? Get comfy and discover more as you read further!
What Are Weighted Blankets and How Do They Work?
Weighted blankets are therapeutic blankets filled with tiny pellets, glass beads, sand or metal chains throughout. These blankets come in a variety of weights, ranging from 4 to 30 pounds. The weight is then evenly distributed across the body when lying underneath these comfy covers — making you feel like you’re being warmly hugged, stroked, held, cuddled or squeezed! ?
That may sound all basic, but there’s science behind this!
The pressure of the blanket’s extra weight provides therapeutic value. This pressure, also known as “deep pressure touch” (DPT), triggers responses in the nervous system that can lower your heart rate and improve breathing!
Deep pressure touch can take many forms, including swaddling for babies, massage, hugs and any sort of pressure evenly applied to your body. DPT has been shown to reduce cortisol, the hormone our bodies release when stressed. While it increases dopamine, serotonin and melatonin — hormones that promote relaxation, regulate our mood and signal our brains that it’s time to sleep!
Doesn’t this sound so relieving, especially for us women in midlife? ?
With many factors that could get in our way to sleep peacefully at night, a weighted blanket definitely sounds like a good “comforter”. ?
When you’re anxious or having a restless night, weighted blankets can help calm you down and promote better sleep quality. The weight can also help stop all the tossing and turning in bed, so you lie still and fall back to sleep easily!
Let me walk you through all the midlife health benefits you could get from weighted blankets and learn why you should invest in one!
5 Wonderful Benefits of Weighted Blankets for Midlife Health
1. Reduces Anxiety
At this age, anxiety is primarily due to hormone imbalance and other stressors such as personal relationships, health challenges, the economy and many more. Anxieties can make us feel restless and it’s hard to sleep at night with a clouded mind! Luckily, one of the most widely known uses of a weighted blanket is ANXIETY RELIEF!
Research shows that the deep pressure touch of a weighted blanket can help reduce our body’s arousal tendencies, responsible for anxiety symptoms!
To know more how these wonder blankies can lift anxieties, listen to Dr. Adam Perlman of Mayo Clinic in this video!
Want to discover more ways to feel better and ease anxiety in menopause? Visit our article specially made for that! ? Anxiety and Depression and Ways to Feel Better
3. Treats Insomnia
Oh… here comes another midlife trouble! I think many menopausal women have met this sleep-knocker at some point in their midlife years. But how does a weighted blanket help treat insomnia?
Just to give you a picture, a clinical trial on autism and weighted blankets showed that children experienced a significant decrease in their sleep issues!
Also, in an ADHD study using ball blankets, the weighted blanket helped reduce sleep onset time and the number of nighttime awakenings among the participants!
Moreover, a 2016 study reported that participants with chronic insomnia felt safer and more comfortable during sleep! The participants aged between 25-66 years old had a calmer night’s sleep, with a decrease in movements.
The above evidences show that weighted blankets indeed have an overall benefit for sleep disorders such as insomnia!
READ MORE: ? 16 Natural Solutions for Sleep Deprivation During Menopause
3. May Ease Osteoarthritis
People experiencing osteoarthritis commonly receive massage therapy to reduce joint pain.
Consequently, this therapy applies deep pressure to osteoarthritic joints. Therefore, if you are having joint pains, it’s possible that similar benefits may be experienced when using a weighted blanket!
4. Can Aid Chronic Pain
As mentioned, massage therapy is one of the recommended treatments for joint and chronic pain, especially in midlife years! Researchers in a 2016 study found that massage therapy reduced pain reflexes in those with chronic pain conditions!
The key is by starting with light pressure, then gradually increasing to moderate and deep pressure. This indicates that the extra pressure of a weighted blanket may help keep the legs in place and reduce feelings of pain in chronic pain conditions!
5. Helps Prevent Restless Leg Syndrome
Weighted blankets may help relieve restless leg syndrome (RLS) in menopause! These blankets can calm a restless body, inhibiting the urge to move. So, if you suffer from RLS, a weighted blanket can promote stillness and better sleep quality!
Are leg cramps bothering your sleep too? Know the causes and remedies in our article and start having a quality sleep from now on! ? Leg Cramps at Night: Causes and Remedies
What Kind of Weight Blanket to Go For?
Oh dear, there are NUMEROUS options right now in the market for weighted blankets. To keep you guided, here are some things to remember when choosing your own weighted blanket!
- Must fit the width and length of your body.
- Share a king-sized blanket or buy singles if you prefer different weights.
- For safety reasons, it should not weigh more than 10-15% of your body weight.
- Should snug around your whole body so it can provide gentle and evenly distributed pressure all over.
- Must not hang off the side of the bed because it can easily slide all the way off while you’re sleeping.
Also, it would be best to give yourself some “habituation period” with a weight cover for at least a week! So, do not give up if it does not work wonders right away!
Weighted blankets that contain steel rings or chains are generally more expensive than the ones made of sand or silicone pellets. If possible, go for a weight blankie that’s free from polyester and microplastics!
I understand that deciding about your own weighted blanket can be little tough. We need to be wise about which one to go for… Or else, we’ll put our money, time and effort to waste! ?
Here’s a good one from Bare Home Store. It’s made from 100% natural cotton and glass beads! It also comes in various colors and sizes. You can actually try it out for 30 nights, free of charge! Go and check it out here! ?
Want to experience extra coolness while being soothed in peace? Here’s another naturally made blanket to go for! ? This weighted blankie from WONAP Storefront is made from 100% bamboo — which makes it breathable! The cold touch of this bamboo blanket, filled with glass beads, have a specific feature to keep you cool and comfy all night! ?
Do you put extra value in keeping things clean and organized all the time, you’re surely going to love this one! GNO Solutions Store has a 3-in-1 organic weighted blanket! The 3-piece package includes:
- 100% organic (cotton and bamboo-made) weighted blanket, filled with eco-friendly micro-glass beads
- Machine-washable bamboo duvet cover to keep the blanket clean and safe
- Plush carry bag
See more details here! ?
At the end of the day, it’s all a matter of preference and how “hugged” you want to feel! But you can make the experience more worth it if you remember that it is not only the weight that comes into play. The size, materials and other components like fabric, layers, cooling and heating properties matter too! ?
Are there any possible risks from weighted blankets?
If you have sleep apnea, breathing and heart problems or any chronic health condition, check with your doctor before using a weighted blanket. The weight may also be unsafe for those with epilepsy, skin allergies and blood circulation problems.
Takeaway
We go through many changes in menopause, which can disturb our sleep and peace of mind. But let’s not allow this fact to be an end in itself! After all, there are now countless products we can use to support our midlife health and lifestyle… SO, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE BRILLIANT DISCOVERIES!
You deserve to stay healthy and be stress-free, lovely one. ?
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References
www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/weighted-blankets
www.cnet.com/health/weighted-blankets-how-they-work-the-best-ones-to-buy/
www.verywellhealth.com/weighted-blankets-benefits-5086170
draxe.com/health/weighted-blankets/
www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/do-weighted-blankets-work#risks
safesleepsystems.com/weighted-blankets-help-restless-leg-syndrome/
Gita is the founder of My Menopause Journey. Since 2014, she has been supporting midlife women by sharing hard-earned learnings from her own experience. To advance her knowledge, Gita puts a lot of her time and effort into understanding the broad spectrum of women’s health. She immerses in extensive research about the physical, mental and emotional aspects of menopause. Gita believes in the life-changing power of healthy, holistic living — this is where she anchors her message to all women. Learn more about her marvelous mission in About us - My Menopause Journey.