We can extend the warmth we experience in bed beyond what our bodies naturally produce due to electric blankets. Unfortunately, there are risks involved with sleeping with an electric blanket, like electric blankets can cause blood clots. Read the article to know more about Can Electric Blankets Cause Blood Clots?
The dangers of overheating and flames make it risky to sleep with an electric blanket all night. About 13% of home fires are caused by electrical fires, particularly during the winter.
Additionally, excessive heat can mess with your circadian clock, ruining your sleep. Several things need to be clarified about standard electric blankets, which work by using electromagnetic radiation.
Let’s dispel the myths to demonstrate how things have changed.
Can Electric Blankets Cause Blood Clots?
No proof using an electric blanket might lead to blood clots. When some areas of our blood thicken, blood clots develop. We observe this happening when we get a cut somewhere on the body.
The blood gathers around the wound and clots to stop additional blood loss and shield the injured area. Blood flow can be hampered by blood clots, which can develop inside blood vessels.
The blood thickens in cold conditions; it has been discovered. According to a paper published in the North American Journal of Medical Sciences, vascular disorders are more common in the winter.
Only partially educated people may partially credit this rise in electric blanket use naturally occurring during this time. This assertion is unsupported by any evidence.
What are blood clots?
The condition is known as thrombosis or blood clots when blood coagulates or hardens, forming a clump. This mass can obstruct blood veins, decreasing or stopping blood flow to tissues or organs. These blood clots might be profound or superficial.
While deep blood clots develop in the body’s deep veins, often in the legs, superficial blood clots grow just below the surface.
A very dangerous form of a deep blood clot is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT can cause pain, oedema, and skin discoloration in the afflicted area.
A pulmonary embolism, when a blood clot spreads to the lungs and may cause major consequences, can occasionally result from DVT.
Is It Safe to Sleep with the Electric Blanket On?
Electric blanket use while sleeping is never without risk. Even though current electric blankets include safeguards to prevent mishaps, they are notorious for overheating and catching fire. Since 1936, electric blankets have been in use.
Early on, house fires caused by electric blankets overheating were frequent since there were few safety precautions.
When plugged into an outlet, the metal wires inside them were heated by electricity. Because the metal wires in the electric blankets might reach 115 watts of electricity, they may become overheated and start home fires by burning through the cloth.
Accident prevention features are built into modern blankets. Most electric blankets have had automated shutdown devices that turn them off after a certain amount of time since the early 2000s.
Low-voltage electric blankets run on 12–24 volts to avoid overheating and electric shocks. Others have used insulated wires instead of metal wiring or carbon fibre wires.
Risks still exist while using an electric blanket while you sleep due to malfunctioning wiring. Between 2015 and 2019, electrical fires accounted for 13% of all residential fires, as reported by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). With 30% of electrical house fires resulting from wiring and related equipment occurring in the colder months, electrical failures were the second most common cause of electrical house fires. Sleeping a powered electrical device into the wall overnight is not a good idea.
Does Using An Electric Blanket Affect How Well You Sleep?
When you sleep with an electric blanket on, you run the danger of overheating your body, throwing off your circadian rhythm, and being a fire hazard—reduced sleep quality results from overheating to the point that your core temperature is altered.
The brain releases serotonin when it is warm, promoting melatonin generation. Although warmth benefits humans, it has a serious disadvantage.
According to Sleep, raising our body temperature has little impact on how much melatonin is produced.
According to the study, a higher core body temperature at night causes more alertness and interferes with sleep. While we sleep, we should maintain a comfortable body temperature, not one that raises our core body temperature.
When a woman is pregnant, are electric blankets safe?
According to studies, electric blankets are safe for pregnant mothers and their unborn children. Electric blankets produce non-ionizing EMFs.
Any neurological birth problems in kids are unrelated to the mother’s use of electric blankets during pregnancy because they don’t alter DNA cells.
According to Harvard University, neural tube abnormalities (NTDs) have been linked to heat exposure during pregnancy.
However, the study emphasizes how hot tubs contribute to NTDs rather than electric blankets.
How to Safely Use an Electric Blanket
Even though electric blankets can be harmful, you shouldn’t avoid using them. Electric blankets can help you stay warm at night while reducing your risk of fire and injury.
You can adhere to the following safety advice:
- The bed can be heated with an electric blanket.
- Activate the automated shutdown mechanism.
- Use electric blankets with low voltage.
- Lay the blanket flat at all times.
- Every two years, have an electrician test the electric blanket.
- Avoid lying upper side of an electric blanket at night.
- When the electric blanket is on, never put another blanket on top of it.
Even if you merely use the electric blanket to heat your bed, keep an eye on it. As you get ready for bed, be sure that young children and animals stay away from the electric blanket.
To find out how long to leave the electric blanket on, consult the user manual.
Tips for using electric blankets safely
You should follow a few safety precautions if you use an electric blanket. First and foremost, it’s crucial to read and carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Verify that the blanket is in good shape and shows no symptoms of deterioration or wear. If an electric blanket is wet or moist, avoid using it.
Additionally, it’s crucial to refrain from using an electric blanket while asleep. This might make the blanket more likely to overheat and make it harder to react if it does.
A space heater or a hot water bottle should not be used with an electric blanket or other heating sources. The possibility of burns and other injuries can rise as a result.
Conclusion
I hope you get your answer related to Can Electric Blankets Cause Blood Clots? Although there have been worries regarding the safety of electric blankets and the possibility that they could lead to blood clots, there isn’t any solid proof to back up this allegation.
However, to reduce the risk of burns, overheating, and other health issues, it is crucial to use electric blankets correctly and pay close attention to the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is best to consult a medical expert for guidance if you are worried about the safety of electric blankets or the possible risks involved with their use.
It is crucial to take precautions to lower your risk if you are at a higher risk of getting blood clots, such as if you have a history of DVT or other associated illnesses.
Keeping active and moving around frequently, especially when sitting or lying down for extended periods, may be part of this. You might also need to use compression stockings or take medication to lower your risk of blood clots.
Overall, using electric blankets properly and responsibly is crucial to reduce the risk of additional health issues, even though no conclusive evidence supports the claim that they can cause blood clots.
You can benefit from the warmth and comfort of an electric blanket without endangering your health or safety by adhering to these recommendations and taking the necessary safeguards.
