It is believed that a weighted blanket helps a person quickly release stress, improve sleep quality and do it longer. There is research to support all of this. But many focus on people with psychiatric diagnoses. In addition, experiments are often only performed overnight. The benefit of a blanket for the average 30-year-old without sleep disorders has yet to be fully explored.
The author of the material, Thomas Ling, slept under a weighted ZZZNEST blanket (weight – 7.2 kg) for two months to understand what effect this could have.
As a result, it turned out that after switching to a weighted blanket, sleep practically does not change. And some claims of manufacturers of such blankets turned out to be lies.
Scientists attribute the health benefits of weighted blankets to melatonin production or deep pressure therapy (that is, the blanket has a special effect on the skin). But the latter is just a theory.
But the idea of producing melatonin is supported by a 2022 Swedish study of 26 healthy young people without sleep disorders. Half were using weighted blankets an hour before bedtime, while the rest were using light blankets. It turned out that those who slept under a weighted blanket had 32% higher levels of melatonin. But these people didn’t have to fall asleep faster. There was no difference in sleep quality.
The author of the article states that he feels more energetic after sleeping under a weighted blanket. However, this effect only lasted for the first two weeks. After that, everything gradually became the same as before.
News cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
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