Research Reveals Benefits of Weighted Blankets on Insomnia

(Newswire.net — February 28, 2022) Orlando, FL — The relevance of adequate sleep has never been a subject of debate. Today, researchers are even increasingly stressing the life-saving benefits of getting adequate sleep.

Swedish researchers carried out a study and found that weight blankets are an effective and safe intervention in insomnia treatment. 

More particularly, they found that insomnia patients with psychiatric disorders achieved a reduction in the severity of insomnia and daytime sleepiness. They also experienced sleep improvements through the use of a weighted chain blanket while sleeping. 

This randomized, controlled study suggests weight blanket used for four weeks led to better sleep maintenance, reduced insomnia severity, a higher daytime activity level, and decreased symptoms of fatigue, depression, and anxiety.

The findings of this interesting research were published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 

The subjects belonging to the weighted blanket group were nearly 26 times more likely to have a reduction of 50 percent or more in their insomnia severity compared with the control group. They were also almost 20 times more likely to have insomnia remission. 

“A suggested explanation for the calming and sleep-promoting effect is the pressure that the chain blanket applies on different points on the body, stimulating the sensation of touch and the sense of muscles and joints, similar to acupressure and massage,” said principal investigator Dr. Mats Alder.

Alder is a consultant psychiatrist in the department of clinical neuroscience at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. 

“There is evidence suggesting that deep pressure stimulation increases parasympathetic arousal of the autonomic nervous system and at the same time reduces sympathetic arousal, which is considered to be the cause of the calming effect,” Alder added.

This research involved 120 adults, 68 percent of which are women and 32 percent men. The subjects were diagnosed with clinical insomnia and a co-occurring psychiatric disorder: major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder. 

Scientists continue to investigate the impacts of remedies like weighted blankets on sleep issues like insomnia. It is worth keeping in mind that a number of studies have shown that there are many ways to enhance sleep quality and quantity.

Experts have long been warning that inadequate sleep is associated with undesirable health outcomes. The odds of having these health issues may be reduced through the use of nutrients like B vitamins, which have sleep health benefits.

These nutrients may be obtained through the use of formulas like Divine Bounty B Vitamin Complex. It contains Choline, Pantothenic acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Niacin, Riboflavin, Thiamin, and vitamin B6. (www.amazon.com/dp/B07414752B).