It is a very familiar item, but do you know why many people often sleep with blankets to tell them how hot the weather is?
Blankets used to be a very expensive item from BC to the Middle Ages. But these days, the vast majority of us have at least one blanket for ourselves and are “an inseparable object” when going to bed.
But what is the reason why we form the habit of covering ourselves with blankets, even when the weather is hot?
According to Professor Alice Hoagland from the Center for Sleep Disorders Prevention in Rochester, New York, there are two main reasons for sleeping with a blanket:
“The first is behavioral, and the second is physiological.”
After 60-90 minutes when falling asleep, people show signs of hypothermia.
Compared to behavioral factors, physiological factors are a better explanation for our blanket-like behavior.
About 60-90 minutes after falling asleep, people show signs of hypothermia . Physiologically, the higher our body temperature, the more likely we are to wake up.
Conversely, when the body temperature drops, the body will release the hormone melatonin – which helps us sleep easier. Some doctors have experimented with wearing a special temperature-measuring garment. They found that the patient fell asleep more easily if the body temperature dropped by about 0.5 – 1.5 degrees Celsius.
But that is only in the early stages of sleep, after that time, the body will have additional physiological changes.
When our sleep enters the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, the body temperature will no longer be regulated. At that time, the body is forced to rely on the outdoor temperature.
And at night, the outdoor temperature will gradually drop, no matter the weather. To prevent the body from catching a cold, a blanket is a necessary solution.
In addition, the REM phase also causes the body to reduce the secretion of the hormone serotonin – which regulates human mood.
Thick blankets can magically increase serotonin production.
However, many studies have shown that wearing thick blankets can miraculously increase serotonin production.
In addition, Hoagland also shared that the fact that many people have to sleep with blankets has been formed since childhood . For the reason that they are afraid that their children will catch a cold when the resistance is not fully developed, parents often have the habit of covering their children with blankets when they sleep.
Over time, blankets become an integral part of their bedtime. And when it becomes a habit, they will find it easier to sleep if they have a warm blanket.
In addition, covering a blanket creates a feeling of protection and security . This reason may sound funny, but it’s clear that many of us have the most common fear from an early age: fear of the dark. Sleeping with a blanket activates this sense of security and repels this fear.
So, when that feeling starts to appear every night before we go to sleep, we will deal with it by “covering our bodies”. It’s a magical way to help us fight our fears and make us feel safe by being protected. This sense of security is also a factor that helps us sleep peacefully without anxiety and fear.
Now, don’t wonder why we often sleep with blankets! That’s because you want to have a good night’s sleep during the session.