No one likes tossing and turning at night, but one sleep expert says getting the right blanket can stop that.
Sleep consultant Alanna McGinn told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning that there is fairly documented science of why we need blankets to sleep 鈥� even when it鈥檚 summertime.
Quite simply, she said, using a blanket helps us to deal with our lower nightly core body temperatures. It also increases the serotonin and melatonin levels in our brain which helps relax us and fall asleep.
鈥淥ur circadian rhythm 鈥� that鈥檚 our natural sleep rhythm 鈥� is a huge driver for our sleep,鈥� McGinn said. 鈥淚t starts to lower our core body temperature at around 2 p.m.鈥�
The body鈥檚 natural temperatures continue to drop through the evening; this happens later for night owls. But the problem is that it can make people feel too cold. That鈥檚 when having a nice blanket can help warm us up.
And in the past several years, a cottage industry has popped up revolving around weighted blankets which build upon another benefit of blankets.
鈥淭he firm pressure of the blankets activates the nervous system and releases serotonin 鈥� a chemical in the body that helps us feel calm and also helps to release melatonin, which is a natural sleep hormone that helps prepare us to sleep,鈥� McGinn said.
BLANKETS ARE PART OF OUR NIGHTTIME ROUTINE
But she also pointed out that humans are 鈥渃reatures of habit,鈥� so there鈥檚 a 鈥渉uge association鈥� to when most people used blankets as children. 鈥淲e鈥檙e cuing to our body (and) cuing to our brain that it鈥檚 time to go to sleep because you got the blanket on,鈥� she said.
McGinn says 鈥渨e sleep better cooler鈥� and that the ideal room temperature hovers between 19 to 23 Celsius.
She also recommended that 鈥渉ot sleepers鈥� or 鈥渘ight sweaters鈥� not sleep naked but instead use lighter, breathable fabrics when choosing blankets, bed sheets and pajamas. These fabrics can include flax, cotton or even bamboo.
McGinn even suggested that these groups use lighter-coloured blankets which absorb less light, and added that these sleepers should also consider cooling pads or blankets.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of work,鈥� she admitted, adding that everyone needs to find the right method for them to get a good night鈥檚 rest.
