Previous research has shown that weighted blankets may ease insomnia in humans. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Hence, researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden experimented with 26 young men and women to examine if the bedtime use of a weighted blanket increases the production of sleep-promoting and anti-stress hormones like melatonin and oxytocin. In addition, they investigated whether the bedtime use of a weighted blanket (12 percent of participants' body weight) reduced the activity of stress systems in the body. [...]
"Using a weighted blanket increased melatonin concentrations in saliva by about 30 percent. However, no differences in oxytocin, cortisol, and the activity of the sympathetic nervous system were observed between the weighted and light blanket conditions," says Elisa Meth, first author and Ph.D. student at the Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences at Uppsala University.
Journal Reference:
Elisa M. S. Meth, Luiz Eduardo Mateus Brandão, Lieve T. van Egmond, et al., A weighted blanket increases pre-sleep salivary concentrations of melatonin in young, healthy adults [open], J Sleep Res, 2022. DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13743
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Barenflimski on Friday October 21 2022, @03:09AM
I like a cold night and a heavy comforter.
I thought I did that just cuz it felt good. Apparently I'm a sucker for Melatonin.
(Score: 0, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 21 2022, @05:28AM (1 child)
In a second study, melatonin has no effect on sleep. Therefore it must be the magic beans in the floating carpet.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Freeman on Friday October 21 2022, @01:43PM
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-melatonin/art-20363071 [mayoclinic.org]
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by BananaPhone on Friday October 21 2022, @02:10PM (3 children)
While I have no proof or links to research I can tell you my sleep has gone to shit since my mid 40's.
I used to have trouble waking up..period.
Now my alarm sound is low volume static and I need things to go to sleep or stay asleep.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday October 21 2022, @04:43PM (2 children)
It's not your lack of melatonin, it's all your cortisol burnt systems that just don't cycle anymore.
I used to process alcohol a hell of a lot better than I do anymore. Now, if I drink more than 1 serving in the hour or two before bed, I'll fall asleep like a log, but jolt awake 3-4 hours later with a major blood sugar level spike.
I had a Grandfather who would go to sleep after dinner, then be up at 4 am every day. Didn't bother him, he'd go out and garden in the cool of the Miami morning.
So many things play into sleep, it's no wonder that it goes to hell before we check out altogether.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by number11 on Friday October 21 2022, @05:24PM (1 child)
Interesting. I've noticed that too, though instead of jolting awake, I start feeling too hot. But go back to sleep after throwing the covers off. (And then start feeling cold after a few more hours.)
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday October 21 2022, @07:06PM
>I start feeling too hot.
I get that too... I assume it's high blood sugar doing it. But once it wakes me up it is about impossible for me to go back to sleep for at least an hour.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Friday October 21 2022, @03:00PM (1 child)
We bought our son a weighted blanket, but it didn't have sewn 'pockets' or anything to hold the 'beans' in place, so all the beans tend to end up at the edges or bottom, thus defeating their purpose.
We were going to try to sew our own pockets in it, but then he ended up tearing it apart (if he finds any flaw such as a pin-hole, he 'fixes' the flaw by getting rid of it (ie: he makes a bigger hole until the pin-hole is gone, lol)).
Now he just has his heavy 'felt-like' blankets (don't know what you'd call the fabric).
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday October 21 2022, @04:48PM
Our son (severe autism) has that habit - though he doesn't really need to find a defect hole in his socks or shirt to decide that a hole needs to be put there, and expanded. He usually stops when it's a little bigger than big enough to get a finger comfortably through.
Weighted blankets used to help him calm down when he was younger (turns 21 later this year), mostly he doesn't need them now - and/or you could say that they don't help much when he does.
🌻🌻 [google.com]