May 5th, 2020 by Sarah Miles

It is estimated that up to 16 million people in the UK experience some difficulty sleeping. There are, of course, a range of reasons for this but aches and pains are definitely up there as a main cause of sleep issues, whether they’re stopping you getting to sleep or waking you in the night.

One solution could be to take pain killers but if you would prefer to find a more natural remedy, something that you could consider would be an electric blanket.

How can an electric blanket ease pain?

An electric blanket can be a really effective way of dealing with aches and pains at night because heat is a natural form of pain relief, especially for muscular and joint pain. Heat is really good for pain for a number of reasons: the heat receptors in our body can block the chemical signals that communicate pain to the brain; heat is a muscle relaxant, reducing tightness and relieving spasms; it improves circulation, which increases blood flow to sore areas and aids the healing process; and it can enhance flexibility, giving you a better range of motion in joints. This can be especially good for arthritic conditions.

Heat is actually very commonly used as a treatment for pain. Heat gels, heated wheat bags, heated pads and wraps, hot water bottles and even massages all use heat to ease pain and can provide real relief.

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Why are electric blankets a good source of heat for pain relief?

One advantage that an electric blanket has over other heat remedies is that it maintains constant heat for as long as you need it. While the methods listed here will ease pain when applied, they will start to cool straight away and therefore the relief may be short-lived. They can also be difficult to regulate. For example, a hot water bottle may be a little too hot to start with, the right temperature for a while and then become too cool. The amount of time it’s at the ‘just right’ stage may not actually last very long.

The heat from an electric blanket is very controllable so not only will it stay warm for as long as you want it to, you can set it at just the right temperature for you and this will remain constant. This means the pain relief will last longer and you’re much less likely to be woken by it in the night. The soft fabric of an electric blanket also gives you comfort and will help you to relax.

Whether you have general aches and pains (common as we get older), are recovering from an injury or have longer-term pain issues, an electric blanket can be a very effective way of relieving pain without medication and helping us enjoy a better night’s sleep (which will, in itself, aid healing).

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