Treating Fibromyalgia, or relieving the symptoms associated with it, is quite complicated. Treatments include prescription drugs, a healthy diet, vitamins, essential oils, and lifestyle changes.
Some are preferring alternative non-drug treatments due to the chemical drugs' side effects. According to many studies, Far Infrared Ray's thermal effect (FIR) is beneficial and practical. FIR-emitting heat lamps, saunas, and garments have thermal heat. This thermal heat helps relieve the pain in fibromyalgia patients. FIR also accelerates the healing of the damaged tissues. (1)
10 Ways that SleepGift Weighted Blankets & Pads can help Fibromyalgia patients
1. Support in Pain Management
The main symptom of fibromyalgia in patients is chronic pain. The excruciating pain leads to insomnia, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Our SleepGift Weighted Blankets can reduce the pain by two natural effects: (a) providing Deep Pressure Stimulation (DPS) and (b) increasing the blood flow with FIR.
A Spanish study in 2017 showed the FIR-emitting nanoparticles in the undershirt relieve the pain in fibromyalgia patients. SleepGift Weighted Blankets have the FIR energy both in the fabric and in the filling material.
Pain is felt due to increased metabolic waste in the cells. Increased blood flow with FIR energy cleans the toxins & waste material at the cellular level. Damaged tissues get repaired faster with FIR effects. The combination of FIR and the weight effects significantly help the pain subside. SleepGift Health Pads can also be used to relieve local pain any time of the day. (2)
2. Improve Sleep
Fibromyalgia patients suffer from sleep disturbance due to many reasons, including pain, stress and high sensitivity to touch. Inadequate sleep is a contributor to severe fatigue seen in fibromyalgia patients. Managing sleep plays a big part in the treatment of Fibromyalgia.
SleepGift Weighted Blankets help patients to fall asleep faster and get more restorative, deep sleep. The weight stimulates endorphins which turn to the sleep hormone - melatonin. The FIR energy in the blankets brings heat effect to the aching tissues and cleans the toxins. The pain and tenderness subside, which help get a good, restful sleep.
3. Increase Endorphins
The gentle pressure from SleepGift Weighted Blankets improves sleep quality. Better sleep means good relaxation and less stress hormone cortisol. When fibromyalgia patients sleep under the weighted blankets, their blood cortisol levels are reduced during nighttime. Lower cortisol level leads to improved mood, less pain and less stress
4. Decrease Cortisol
The gentle pressure from SleepGift Weighted Blankets improves sleep quality. Better sleep means good relaxation and less stress hormone cortisol. When the fibromyalgia patients sleep under the weighted blankets, their blood cortisol levels are reduced during night time. Lower cortisol level leads to improved mood, less pain and less stress.
5. Reduce Fatigue
Chronic or severe fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms of Fibromyalgia. It often goes hand-in-hand with sleepless nights. It can make it tough to concentrate. Even basic everyday tasks can be gruelling. By increasing the serotonin levels, the feeling of fatigue is lessened. SleepGift Weighted Blankets make this happen by the effect of blanket weight and cleaning the tissues by FIR.
6. Ease Anxiety and Depression
Fibromyalgia symptoms increase anxiety and depression as patients can't perform their daily functions, leading them to feel more anxious and depressed.
Using SleepGift Weighted Blankets can ease anxiety and depression in fibromyalgia patients. Weighted blanket users show lower anxiety and depression levels in the studies. SleepGift Weighted Blankets stimulate deep pressure points by evenly distributed weight and show calming effect similar to a massage therapy in the whole body.
7. Improve Mood
SleepGift Weighted Blankets essentially imitate a gentle hugging and holding effect by its firm pressure on the body. It gives the same good feeling after getting a hug from someone. Even premature babies display better and faster development when their caregivers hug them. The hugging effect from the blanket produces the relaxation hormone serotonin, which reduces blood pressure and provides an overall sense of well-being and happiness. With its pain-reducing effect, it also helps improve your mood.
8. Increase Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a neuro-transmitter known for its pain killer and anti-depressant, anti-anxiety effects on the body. Significantly depressed Fibromyalgia patients show lower levels of oxytocin in their blood. The level of happiness of the Fibromyalgia patients correlates with the level of oxytocin. Oxytocin also regulates anxiety and depression. With Deep Pressure Point stimulation, SleepGif Weighted Blankets and Pads increase the oxytocin production naturally in the body. (3) (4)
9. Improve Concentration and Memory
The pain all over the body of fibromyalgia patients can negatively affect concentration and memory. The impaired attention negatively affects the daily functions, which can also feed their stress and depression. With SleepGift Weighted Blanket's effect of easing the pain and increasing sleep quality, your attention and memory get better.
SleepGift Weighted Blankets can mimic physical therapy during sleep, and its effect improves over time. The sensory impact from the weight and improved metabolism from FIR energy alleviate the pain and tenderness.
10. Assist in Weight Management
The FIR energy in our weighted blankets and pads can help with weight management. Weight gain is one of the side effects of drug treatments for Fibromyalgia. The weight gain can be managed by routine physical exercise, combined with the use of SleepGift Blankets and Pads. The SleepGift Weighted Blankets provide many benefits to improve the symptoms. (5)
REFERENCES:
(1) Research of FIR (Far Infrared Rays) Effectiveness For Fibromyalgia
(2) Reduction in Pain After Use of Bioceramic Undershirt for Patients With Fibromyalgia.
(3) Plasma oxytocin levels in female fibromyalgia syndrome patients.
(4) Oxytocin – A Multifunctional Analgesic for Chronic Deep Tissue Pain
Author: Tina Ureten, MD, RDMS, RDC
