There are many tips that we should heed in order to fall asleep better. Be it banning the smartphone from the bedroom or choosing the right mattress. But would you have guessed how crucial the right duvet is? Online editor Kristina Regentrop has tested the weighted blanket from CURA of Sweden for you – it is said to help improve sleep quality.
Around 80 percent of all workers in Germany sleep poorly and have problems falling asleep and staying asleep – this is the conclusion of the DAK Health Report 2017 . Extrapolated to the population, that is about 34 million people in Germany. Barmer came to very similar conclusions in its 2019 health report and shows that problems falling and staying asleep have increased since 2005. Women tend to have more trouble falling asleep than men.
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Too little sleep is bad for our health
Those who do not sleep enough have a higher risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases such as heart attacks, high blood pressure or diabetes . In addition, a lack of sleep weakens the immune system and promotes infectious diseases . The reasons why we have such sleep problems can be varied. In addition to psychological reasons such as stress or anxiety, our mattress and bed linen also make a significant contribution to the quality of our sleep.
Weighted blankets improve sleep quality and health
So what helps in the long term to fall asleep and stay asleep better? Weighted blankets have been in demand in Sweden for many years when it comes to all kinds of sleep disorders. Compared to conventional blankets, weighted blankets are significantly heavier.
The company CURA of Sweden offers such innovative weighted blankets that contribute to better conditions for healthy and comfortable sleep. The company works together with professionals such as doctors or occupational therapists to offer high-quality bedroom products. According to the company, which is based in Sundsvall, Sweden, 9 out of 10 people sleep better with a weighted blanket.
Because the principle of the weighted blanket, consisting of small, polished glass beads, is as simple as it is ingenious: the weighted blankets from CURA of Sweden exert a pleasant, enveloping pressure on the body. Due to the weight, the body’s own feel-good hormone is released, which triggers a relaxing and calming effect. This in turn makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep, increases physical activity and relieves symptoms of fatigue, depression and anxiety disorders.
There is also scientific evidence for this: researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm came to the conclusion in their study that weighted blankets are an effective remedy for insomnia and can be very helpful for patients with severe depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and ADHD, among other things.
Also interesting: Can I get my therapy or weighted blanket on prescription? >>
Editor’s test: I’m testing the weighted blanket from CURA of Sweden
When I first heard about weighted blankets, I was both curious and skeptical: can the weight of the blanket make a significant contribution to sleeping better or worse? Unfortunately, I’m not one of those people who go to bed at night, roll onto my side and fall asleep within minutes. I’ve always had trouble falling asleep. It takes me about half an hour and a half to fall asleep. During this time, I usually toss and turn in bed, trying to find the right position to fall asleep, and I can’t get my mind to rest.
However, once I fall asleep, I can sleep well until morning and only wake up occasionally in the evening. Could the Weighted Blanket Contribute to How Well or Badly I Sleep? My curiosity was aroused and I will put the weighted blanket through its paces for more than two weeks.
Choosing the right weighted blanket
Since the weighted blanket is tailored to your own body weight and should be around 10-15 percent of your own body weight, I use a seven-kilogram blanket. CURA of Sweden offers blankets from three to 16 kilograms – so there is the right weight for everyone and the weighted blankets are also suitable for children. CURA of Sweden offers different models. My choice falls on the CURA Pearl Eco , which consists of 100 percent natural materials and impresses me with its high level of breathability. In addition, the blanket is fluffier than the other models. However, quality also has its price: the blanket costs around 230 euros. The cheapest CURA Pearl Basic blanket costs 120 euros.
My first impression of the weighted blanket
When the blanket is delivered to the editorial office, I am surprised. The 7 kilogram blanket feels at least twice as heavy. Accordingly, beads of sweat are on my forehead when I drag the blanket to my apartment on the fourth floor at the end of the day. To be on the safe side, I check whether I have selected the right model or whether a heavier blanket accidentally ended up in my shopping cart. But no, everything is correct so far.
When making the duvet, I am more than happy that my mother is visiting and can help me. As I hold up the blanket, my mom pulls and tugs the cover into place. Then I heave the blanket onto my bed and I feel a bit uneasy for a moment. Do you want this heavy blanket to weigh me down all night? I feel a little queasy when I go to bed at night and slip under my weighted blanket. Although it is unusually heavier, I don’t feel crushed by the ceiling, but much more secure.
Thanks to the weighted blanket, I fall asleep more easily
Because of the heaviness of the blanket, I can no longer kick my legs wildly or throw myself from one side to the other. However, as usual, it takes me longer to fall asleep the first night. The next morning I wake up well and refreshed – I don’t notice any difference to usual. Let’s see how the blanket will continue to affect my sleep.
Also in the following nights I notice that I move much less and I notice that after a few minutes my breathing becomes noticeably calmer and deeper. That has to be the antihypertensive and relaxing effect that the blanket promises. After just a few days I got used to the additional weight of the blanket. Over the next two weeks, I wake up more refreshed and feel like I’m sleeping deeper thanks to the blanket.
I am consistently positively surprised by the weighted blanket. The only disadvantage: making the bed in the morning, like shaking the blanket, is much more strenuous than usual.
My conclusion? Never again without a weighted blanket
After over two weeks I’m going back to my old blankets. Even turning down the covers feels unusually light – far too light. When I lie under my covers, I feel less covered and safe. I almost miss the heaviness of my weighted blanket. I notice how I turn more often from left to right again. I don’t know what to do with my legs. When I still can’t fall asleep after more than half an hour, I finally get up and take out my weighted blanket. As soon as I lie under her, I notice how calm I am for the moment and slowly but surely dive into the realm of dreams. Ever sleep without a weighted blanket again? For me unimaginable.
