Infrared heating pads are an effective and easy-to-use remedy for back pain, joint stiffness, muscle aches, cramps, joint inflammation, and general body pain. Infrared therapy is safe and natural, which enables it to be widely used in the fields of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and in autoimmune diseases, to name a few.
If you are already using one, you might be familiar with the therapeutic benefits of using one.
Some benefits of using an infrared heating pads:
Infrared therapy has many roles in the human body. These include detoxification, pain relief, reduction of muscle tension, relaxation, improved circulation, weight loss, skin purification, lowered side effects of diabetes, boosting of the immune system and lowering of blood pressure.
1. Improve blood circulation
Far-infrared rays raise the temperature of the deep subcutaneous layer of the skin, dilate capillaries, and promote blood circulation.
2. Alleviates pain and inflammation
Infrared therapy is an effective and safe remedy for pain and inflammation. It can penetrate deep through the layers of the skin, to the muscles and bones. Since infrared therapy enhances and improves circulation in the skin and other parts of the body, it can bring oxygen and nutrients to injured tissues, promoting healing. It helps ease pain, relieve inflammation, and protect against oxidative stress.
3. Muscular Injuries
Far-infrared heating pads use natural jade stones or carbon fibers to emit infrared rays, which penetrate much deeper into your body – all the way to your muscles, nerves, and bones. The deep penetrating infrared rays actually increase blood circulation in your muscles and help your body heal the injured area faster.
4. Remove toxins in the body
Infrared therapy can be applied through saunas. Detoxifications are helpful since they may strengthen the immune system. Additionally, detoxification improves food digestion by assisting biochemical processes to function properly. In infrared saunas, the body’s core temperature increases, leading to detoxification at the cellular level.
Regular use of an infrared heating pad for just 30 minutes can give back pain relief for up to 6 hours without the use of any medication.
Infrared heating pads are a very effective way to quickly warm up or reduce muscle injury and soothe tension or stiffness, but they should be used with caution.
Using an Infrared Heating Pad While Sleeping
The inherent danger of using electric heating is the chance of overheating or electric malfunction that can lead to a fire. Modern infrared heating pads come with safety features, but the possibility of malfunction cannot be ruled out. This can be potentially very dangerous especially if you are sleeping.
Can you leave a heating pad on all night? Safety is the key factor to consider whether we should sleep on an infrared heating pad or not. Keep reading so that you can reach a balanced conclusion on whether you should be using the pad while sleeping or not.
A Fire Hazard
The inherent danger of using electric heating is the chance of overheating or electric malfunction that can lead to a fire. Modern infrared heating pads come with safety systems but the chance of malfunction cannot be ruled out. This can be potentially very dangerous especially if you are sleeping.
Although every PHYMAT Infrared Heating Pad has a temperature sensor, which allows the mat to stop working rather than overheat or break down. Problems can arise from exposing materials to the high end of a heating pad’s temperature range – some clothing, furniture, or other materials react poorly to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat is an elemental, intimidating force, and you should always be aware of what your heated pad is on or near.
Infrared Heating Pad Burn
Apart from the risk of starting a fire, heating pads can also burn your skin after prolonged use. If you fall asleep with a particular part of your body exposed to an infrared heating pad you are essentially putting yourself at risk of irritation or burns. If you are in deep sleep, you probably will not wake up until it’s too late.
If you want to sleep on an infrared heating pad all night, you should always set it to low heat. A pad with an automatic shut-off timer is necessary so that you can set it to shut off after 4 hours. Due to heat, you may get some relief during the pain; but due to high radiation heat will penetrate the skin very deep.
If you fall asleep, your body may not give warning that your skin is burning. For an infant or someone who must rely on others to move their body, there is a burn risk. A timer would be advisable.
The Adverse Effect for Inflammation
The way infrared heating pads work to reduce inflammation is by boosting blood flow to the affected area which then helps in repairing muscle and reducing inflammation. However, overexposure can have the opposite effect as blood can get trapped in the affected area leading to more inflammation. This is why using heating pads for too long isn’t recommended.
The Pads are Heavy and Stiff
Infrared Heating Pads with Gemstones and Crystals are a bit stiff when lying on them. In fact, infrared pads are often not as flexible and soft as regular electric heating pads. If you want to sleep on it, you can use the cotton cover that comes with it or a soft and thick blanket. You’ll feel more comfortable once you change the way you use it.
Take notice:
When you cover the mat with a blanket or the included cover, please always make sure to cover the entire surface of the mat. Partially covering may lead to malfunction of the heat sensor.
Conclusion
Careful analysis and full knowledge of any product or machine are needed if you’re planning to use it. The same is true of infrared heating pads. It is imperative to be aware of the repercussions of prolonged use of an infrared heating pad. In addition, this is because of the harmful effects its infrared radiation can have on the human body.
We have highlighted the main concerns of using a heating pad while sleeping. We hope that these concerns are enough to convince you to turn it off before you fall asleep. Although newer models come with various safety features, we believe that the dangers far outweigh the benefits.
Using a pad while sleeping is not recommended, but if you are suffering from chronic pain and lower back pain, you shouldn’t completely avoid using them.
Having complete knowledge about the advantages and precautions is very important when you are considering sleeping on it.
