Anyone had any experience with weighted blankets to help hold you still while you sleep. I ve been having trouble with extreme gas pain from my cpap and i think it happens mostly when i sleep on my side so i m hoping a weighted blanket might help.
Infants toddlers or very young children shouldn t use a weighted blanket.
Are weighted blankets safe for sleep apnea. Weighted blankets are sometimes used for people with autism but a randomized controlled trial of 67 subjects published in 2014 concludes the use of a weighted blanket did not help children with asd sleep for a longer period of time fall asleep significantly faster or wake less often. Essentially the weight of the blankets induces bodily pressure that may trigger the production of serotonin a feel good chemical and this can help the elderly relieve the symptoms of several conditions. There s little research as to why this is the case but the concern is that damaged lungs might have a difficult time breathing under the extra weight just as obesity makes it more difficult to manage respiratory conditions.
The filling material for the weighted blankets must also be chosen with care. The blankets exert extra pressure on the chest and can make breathing more challenging for people with these conditions. 2 lots of people without adhd or autism and so on also experience better sleep or daytime relaxation with weighted blankets.
This being said researchers are hesitant to recommend weighted blankets to those with obstructive sleep apnea asthmatics and those with respiratory problems. Check with your doctor before you use one if you have sleep apnea breathing problems or any chronic health condition. If you ve been on social media recently you ve probably seen someone touting the benefits of weighted blankets.
Have you ever considered using a weighted blanket for sleep. Although they were originally used to soothe the restless minds of those with conditions like anxiety adhd and asd pretty much anyone can use them to achieve better quality sleep. Such blankets are stated to be calming 1 increase relaxation help people fall asleep faster sleep longer and experience better sleep quality as evidenced in waking up more easily feeling more rested and feeling more positive in at least a third of the trial group.
For those under stress weighted blankets are supposed to work much like touch pressure therapy. Prices range from about 120 to 249 or more. The use of weighted blankets is contraindicated for people suffering from asthma obstructive sleep apnea copd or other lung disorders.
Weighted blankets are usually filled with plastic pellets to add weight ranging from about 4 to 25 pounds. Long used as a sleep aid and anxiety reducer for people with conditions including asd adhd and sensory processing disorders weighted blankets have definitely caught the interest of the general public.
