Please choose to continue your session or sign out now.An electric blanket is a nice investment that will save you money and keep you comfortable for years. While most people purchase blankets for the luxuriant warmth that they provide, there are many others who get them to help them feel better; to relive the symptoms of several medical conditions. For anyone who intends to use a heated pad or blanket for therapeutic purposes, they should check with their health care provider before doing so just to be safe. However, for most people the use of these products is harmless and goes a long way in providing soothing relief. For centuries, heat has been used to alleviate muscle soreness and pain. Various methods have been used over the years but what they all have in common is that whatever they used to generate the heat lasted only for a time, usually a short amount of time. A heated mattress pad is a very good way to alleviate muscle pain because by lying on the pad set at a low temperature, even heat is consistently distributed to the problem areas.
This causes the muscles to relax over time by losing their tightness, and increases the blood flow that will reduce pain. In the same way that the heat alleviates muscle aches and pains, it works similarly for persons suffering from arthritis and fibromyalgia. By applying gentle heat, the blood flow to the skin is increased. The increased blood flow causes the muscles around the problem areas to relax, and when this happens the pain and stiffness can decrease considerably. While we all experience stress to some level, there are some people that are more affected than others, to the point where it poses a serious health risk. These persons many times have problems relaxing, and the soothing warmth of a heated blanket or pad in a quiet area helps to release stress and tension, causing them to relax. Many people suffer from cold hands and feet, and while in many cases it’s not something to worry about, in others it’s a clinical problem caused by Raynaud’s phenomenon. This causes some areas of the body, including the hands or feet, to feel numb and cold because the blood vessels in these areas are overreacting to heat or cold.
A nice heated blanket reduces the symptoms of this condition. Your mattress can be a hotbed for allergens and dust mites because the moisture caused from sweat and cold in addition to the hair and skin that your body naturally sheds provides a breeding ground for these allergens. If you use a heated mattress pad, it can significantly reduce the allergen levels because the mattress humidity is decreased, thus lessening the chances that you’ll be made ill by allergens. Spread the Word to By Sharing this Article. New Treatment Guidelines for Back Pain Stress Non-Drug Interventions, Physical Movement and Watchful Waiting Legal Filing Accuses EPA of Unfairly Protecting Monsanto Kennedy Challenges Journalists to Balanced Discussion About Vaccine Safety Vitamin D Is More Effective Than Flu Vaccine, Study Says Healing the Body With Photobiomodulation Winter is upon you if you live in the northern hemisphere, and with this challenging economy you are probably interested in lowering your thermostat and conserving energy while still staying warm
An electric blanket seems like a good idea. You can turn the thermostat down at bedtime and stay comfortable throughout the night. But the central question is: Are they safe? It's true -- electric blankets are convenient and cost-effective. But it is important to know that they may also be hazardous to your health. In addition to the fire danger associated with a defective or an old, worn electric blanket, there is also another health risk to consider -- the electromagnetic field you'll be sleeping under for several hours every night.. What Is an Electromagnetic Field? An electromagnetic field (EMF) is an invisible zone of energy that surrounds electric devices and wiring. EMFs are actually comprised of two fields: The electric field is created by voltage, which determines the force with which the electricity is pushed through wires. Most electric fields can be shielded by the design of the appliance, or physically, by walls or other barriers. The magnetic field is created by the current, which is the amount of electricity being pushed.
Magnetic fields, which are the main cause of health concerns, can travel through most barriers and for long distances, and are difficult to block. All electromagnetic energy falls somewhere on the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation to microwaves, x-rays, and gamma rays. ELF fields are generated by household appliances, including electric blankets, andoverhead power lines, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, such as leukemia. The Dangers of Electromagnetic Energy to Your Health When electricity passes through a wire, it creates an electromagnetic field that exerts force on nearby objects, including animals and humans. At one time, it was believed that low-level magnetic fields were not harmful, but scientists now agree that ELF fields are indeed hazardous to human health. They are now considered "probable carcinogens," and have been linked to cases of childhood leukemia, lymphoma, and other health conditions.
The exact mechanism by which exposure leads to cancer has not been established. But one potential mechanism may be due to ELFs ability to alter the expression of certain genes; turning them on and off at inappropriate times, which may cause them to initiate cell proliferation. Additionally, the BioInitiative Report,i published August 31, 2007 by an international working group of scientists, researchers, and public health policy professionals, documents serious scientific concerns about the radiation emitted from power lines, cell phones, and many other sources of exposure to radiofrequencies and electromagnetic fields in daily life. It concludes that the existing standards for public safety are completely inadequate to protect your health. The report includes studies showing evidence that electromagnetic fields can: Affect gene and protein expression (Transcriptomic and Proteomic Research) Have genotoxic effects – RFR and ELF DNA damage Induce stress response (Stress Proteins)
Affect neurology and behavior Cause childhood cancers (Leukemia) Promote breast cancer (Melatonin links in laboratory and cell studies) Why Electric Blankets Are a Bigger Threat Than Other Household Appliances Researchers have concluded that you should not only be aware of the potential harm of low-level magnetic fields, you should also limit your exposure as much as possible. This is especially true for appliances held close to the body, as would be the case with electric blankets. The magnetic fields given off by various household appliances diminish sharply the farther you are from the appliance. In the case of electric blankets, however, a study conducted by Dr. Nancy Wertheimer in the mid-1980s demonstrated that the reading at any power level (level 1 all the way up to level 9 or 10) was 10 to 20 mG (milliGauss) next to the blanket, and 5 to 10 mG six inches away from it. These numbers represent the field strength to which you're exposed when sleeping under an electric blanket.
The current is balanced at the center of the blanket, but unbalanced at the outer edges. It is the imbalance that causes a significant magnetic field to be generated. While there is heated debate as to what EMF level is considered safe, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a safety standard of 1 mG, but many experts believe even this level is too high. As you can see, electric blankets are capable of creating a magnetic field anywhere from five to 20 times higher than the EPA's proposed safe level of exposure. Meanwhile, many scientists warn that the enforced standards for electromagnetic exposures are too lax, and that the safety standards need to be revised in order to protect human health. Specific Risks Linked to Electric Blanket EMFs Electric blankets create a magnetic field that penetrates about six to seven inches into your body -- for hours at a time. This qualifies as chronic exposure. Epidemiological studies have linked electric blankets with miscarriages and childhood leukemia.
Data reported in the American Journal of Epidemiologyii suggests that regular use of an electric blanket may increase breast cancer risk in some women, and according to a 2007 report published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, using electric blankets was associated with a 15 percent higher prevalence of endometrial cancer than never having used one. The same study also revealed that the use of electric blankets for 20 years or more was associated with 36 percent higher prevalence of endometrial cancer. Other studies have shown that the EMFs generated by electric blankets suppress melatonin production. Melatonin is the most important detox agent for your brain and is also an anti-inflammatory. Electromagnetic radiation can make inflammation worse by creating more potent mycotoxins, so reducing inflammation is vital. Research included in the BioInitiative Report mentioned above has also found links between melatonin disruption and the promotion of breast cancer.iii