December 13, 2024

Litum Health

Health Blog

Weighted Blanket – What is it and How Does It Work?

3 min read

Whether you suffer from any health conditions or not, you must have better sleep quality to stay mentally fit to fight against your sufferings.

Recently, the popularity of weighted blankets has grown widely due to its therapeutic benefits. Some recent researches have shown that a weighted blanket helps you to reduce anxiety, stress and sleep disorders.

Bleen have a list of manufacturers of high-quality weighted blankets around your location. You can also check out Bleen.com to access their online guide on the weighted blanket pros and cons to make the right decision.

They have a global directory of small and large businesses which deals in various products and services. You can also enlist your business with a zero fee pricing plan to add your business name, locations, products, and much more.

What is a weighted blanket?

A weighted blanket is a specially designed therapeutic blanket filled with a heavy material to relieve your stress and enhance better sleep quality.

It is thick, soft, cosy, and heavy-weighted blanket to provide a sense of hug, security and comfort for the people who use them. They are beneficial in treating various mental and sleep disorders.

Some home-made weighted blankets are mostly have less common types of fillers like sand, beans, pebbles, grains, and rice.

These fillers are often inexpensive, but are not durable and reliable enough to offer health benefits. To achieve the ideal weight for the therapeutic effects, a premium weighted blanket is filled with the following four main types of fillers.

1.     Micro Glass Beads

These resembles fine grains of sand and do not produce noise when the blanket is moved. It is expensive, eco-friendly, and heaviest of all other fillers.

2.     Plastic Poly Pellets

These are small and round beads. They are affordable and durable, but pose environmental risks due to its non-recyclable features. They do not attract moulds and are washable.

3.     Steel Shot Beads

It is ideal heavy weight filled for larger-sized blankets. They are round, smooth, and durable. Steel shot beads are noisy weighted blanket filler but worth considering due to its features like mould-resistant, washability and wear-resistant.

Weighted blankets are frequently used as a remedy for conditions like autism, anxiety, and insomnia. Not all weighted blankets are fit for everyone.

But, you can choose an ideal and suitable blanket for you based on the blankets’ weight, size, and material along with your budget and preference.

How do weighted blankets work?

Weighted blankets are heavy to exert an ideal pressure on your body for providing the feel of being hugged.

A research indicates that an ideal weighted blanket must weigh around 10 per cent of your body weight to provide the therapeutic and calming effects. The technique of exerting extra pressure is medically termed as deep-pressure touch (DPT) stimulation.

The DPT stimulation of weighted blankets helps your body to regulate the production of various hormones in your brain.

It helps to increase the release serotonin and dopamine hormones, which promotes the feeling of happiness and calmness. It lowers the release of stress hormone called cortisol to reduce anxiety.

It is also found to release melatonin hormone which helps to improve your sleep cycle and stimulates deep and faster sleep.

Overall, these chemicals or hormones promote a sense of calmness, relaxation, happiness, and well-being.