Sleep is supposed to be a natural thing, but if you wrestle with insomnia (失眠症), you may be tempted to try pieces of equipment that promise better sleep.     1    

“They’ve become the sleep tool to have,” says Alanna McGinn, founder and lead sleep expert at Good Night Sleep Site. “I’m a huge supporter of them because they can work so well.”

About 32 percent of Americans don’t get enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.     2     Insomnia impacts as many as 35 percent of adults from time to time, while 10 percent have chronic trouble falling and staying asleep.

Choose one that’s around 10 percent of your body weight.     3     Inside is a layer of plastic, glass or metal balls surrounded by filling. McGinn says the blanket’s heaviness acts as a touch therapy called deep pressure stimulation. Just as wrapping babies tightly can send them to sleep, these blankets help your heart and breathing rates slow and your body release feel-good hormones, including serotonin (血清素).

Are they effective? A 2020 review study in the U.S. looked at eight previous studies and concluded that weighted blankets helped reduce anxiety — but not necessarily insomnia.     4     A randomized controlled study in Sweden looked at 120 people with insomnia and also depression or anxiety.     5     People with conditions such as diabetes or breathing issues, however, should check with their doctor before using one. “And if you’re someone who is a little afraid of an enclosed space, it’s probably not the best thing for you,” adds McGinn.