Can Sleeping with a Weighted Blanket Treat Sleep Apnea?

Weighted blankets have become the recent craze to help people fall and stay asleep. Many people say sleeping under a weighted blanket feels like being wrapped up in a warm hug. New research suggests that the gentle, even pressure a weighted blanket applies to the whole body can have powerful effects on hormones and even help people with obstructive sleep apnea. Keep reading to learn how a weighted blanket can be used as a sleep apnea treatment in Eugene.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person’s sleep is disrupted by momentary lapses in breathing. These lapses generally last about 10 seconds but can occur hundreds of times per night. In this way, sleep apnea prevents people from getting the quality, regenerative sleep they need to remain healthy and functional.

Signs of Sleep Apnea

Many people only find out they have sleep apnea when their spouse complains about their snoring! Snoring is one of the most common signs of this disorder. Other common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Trouble concentrating at work
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Waking up gasping for breath
• Insomnia
• Weight gain
• Depression or anxiety

Benefits of a Weighted Blanket

Sleeping under a weighted blanket promotes better quality sleep due to deep pressure stimulation, which can change hormones in the body in several ways:

• Stimulate oxytocin: Oxytocin, a hormone that generates feelings of calmness, is one of the many hormones involved in regulating your sleep cycle. Studies have shown that increasing oxytocin during sleep may reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea.
• Reduce cortisol: Cortisol is a hormone that stimulates the body’s stress response. High levels of cortisol make it hard to fall and stay asleep. The body’s cortisol levels usually go down at night, but stress and anxiety can make them go up again. A weighted blanket may help to suppress the release of cortisone.
• Increase serotonin: The deep pressure stimulation of a weighted blanket helps increase levels of serotonin, a hormone that promotes relaxation. Serotonin also stabilizes the mood as well as sleep-wake cycles.

Am I a Good Candidate?

The first step to determine if you could benefit from using a weighted blanket for sleep apnea is to schedule a consultation with a sleep doctor in Eugene. It’s important that he or she fully understands your symptoms and condition so they can create a personalized treatment plan just for you. They may also recommend other ways to overcome your sleep apnea symptoms, such as a diet and increased exercise or oral appliance therapy.

Getting a good night’s rest is key to feeling your best every day. If you are struggling with sleep apnea symptoms, ask your dentist if a weighted blanket can help.

About the Author

A dentist with over two decades of experience, Dr. Ivan Paskalev began his training in sleep dentistry with OSA University in Illinois. He is an active member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and enjoys helping patients achieve quality rest. To learn more about sleep apnea treatment in Eugene, visit the Better Sleep Eugene website or call 541-246-8284.