Electric blankets...unhealthy?

Factual Questions
1

First off: Let me say that I’m a man of science. I don’t believe in homeopathy and all of this other herbal medicine type stuff. I believe in science first and foremost.

Now having said that, when I look up health effects and electric blankets, I uncover all kinds of sites saying that they could possibly cause cancer or (less harmful) decrease your immune system.

The heat in our house is not quite up to snuff. No doubt, so I bought an electric blanket to deal with it. I really enjoy the heat it provides. But I’ve noticed that when I do use the electric blanket I seem to get tired and notice that my extremities get cold. It’s almost as if the electric blanket lowers my metabolism sometimes when I use it during the day.

Second point. I sometimes use it to sleep. It’s kind of nice at times because again, my room is very cold compared to the others in the house. I need to insulate my windows, I know, but yeah…

Now all of these sites that turn up these hits showing how bad electric blankets are, I generally don’t believe them, because they are usually from websites that advocate other obviously unscientific claims.

But what is the Straight Dope on electric blankets. If there is such a thing as EMF effect on the body, then wouldn’t draping yourself in it be problematic?

I remember once seeing a show about some lady who is allergic to EMF radiation, and had to move into the equivalent of a faraday cage to relieve her symptoms.

Now, psychosomatic or not, those are pretty heavy symptoms. Obviously the Daily Mail isn’t a scientific journal of inquiry, but yeah, it’s interesting nonetheless.

I would be open to the idea that electric blankets haven’t been studied enough. After all, smoking cigarettes wasn’t linked to cancer from the beginning. There was obviously a period where people were feeling that it did before appropriate studies were done…

So can anyone tell me what the deal is? EMF in general?

Thanks…

2

Rubbish, all of it. Electric blankets are no more unhealthy than regular blankets and no one–and I do mean NO ONE–is allergic to EMF. It’s either psychosomatic hypochondria or outright fakery. There may be some risks with chronic exposure to high frequency (read microwave) EM, but the very, very low frequency of powerline EMF is almost certainly harmless at ordinary, everyday exposure levels. No reputable studies have shown more than a tenuous link between powerline EMF exposure and health problems.

3

I’ve been using my electric blanket every winter since I’ve been here, and I’m perfectly Aaaauuuggghhhh…

4

According to the World Health Organization Fact Page:

To classify it all as hokum or rubbish, as if you have conclusive evidence, would be a bit premature, but it would seem that you have very little to worry about regarding your electric blanket. Hopefully in the near future they will be able to definitively tell us whether or not all these claims are false.

I don’t believe in homeopathy either, but why would you have doubts about the effectiveness of herbal medicines. Many modern pharmaceuticals have their origins in herbal medicines and their effectiveness should not be disregarded outright. Sure there are people who might make outrageous claims, but herbal medicines in general are not synonymous with snake oil.

5

None of which contradicts anything I posted.

6

Thanks, Q.E.D.

I suspected as much, but would rather have the confirmation of someone who knows a bit more than me. It always seemed like bullshit to me but I still felt it could be true…

Anyway yeah I thought it was dumb,

but anyway to explain my feelings of tiredness when using it? I kind of guessed that my body was reacting the same as if I were in a bed–very warm.

7

There’s no such thing as definitive. However, your own cite confirms that there is currently there is no evidence against low-level EMF. That’s as close to definitive a statement as can be made today about anything. Claims about the harm caused by electric blankets are rubbish. There is no other word for them that is not a synonym of rubbish.

I believe the opposite. Some modern medications have their origins in “herbal medicines,” true, but almost always no longer resemble their original form when they hit the market. Almost everything that is on the shelves labeled as herbal medicine, OTOH, is either ineffective, dangerous, contaminated, mislabeled, misdosed, or otherwise quackpot [sic]. Claims for herbal medicines, with a very tiny number of possible exceptions, are exactly as much rubbish as claims against electric blankets.

And even given that, herbal medicines are far superior to homeopathic medicines.

8

When I said that about herbal medicine I mainly mean these garbage “cleansing” potions that they sell. I do respect those herbal medicines that do contain an active chemical that has been proven to have X effect. Melatonin is a good example for a sleep aid. Although I’m not so sure how “herbal” this can be said to be. From what I understand it is made from the pineal glands of animals…

9

You can probably count the number of those that have scientific consensus on the fingers of one hand. And that still doesn’t mean that any individual pill you buy at a nature’s market will have the right dose in pure enough form. In fact, the odds against it are enormous.

I will guarantee that virtually all melatonin on the market is synthesized rather than harvested from animal sources. And I would highly recommend that if you found some that was animal-based that you run in the opposite direction.

10

My two cats used to fight over who got to sleep on top of my monitor (CRT; very, very toasty). I solved the problem by putting a heating pad inside a fuzzy box, and now contentment reigns.

I guess I have to balance the risk of EMF cancer with Rhythmdvl going absolutely ballistic as they knock things off my desk.

11

The EMF thing seems to be comparatively new or more in vogue now than in earlier times - my memory was the story was more that higher heat = poorer quality sleep, but cant seem to find a definitive/reliable cite, as in the only ones I found were right next to EMF type cites making me wonder if its jsut an older wives tale that predates the EMF shtick rather than having any validity.

What I really liked was finding some sites saying the problem si the magnetic fields they create, while also finding magnetic underblankets to help you sleep at the same time. Doesnt look like the woo scene has complete agreement on that one.

If you’re going to use it and you do feel sleep is effected, I woudl be wondering if the setting is a bit high? My suggestion would be to try it on its lowest setting if possible and see if that helps, or do the pre bed warming thing rather than having it on all night if you’re already doing that. If nothing else it will save a bit of power.

Otara

12

Interestingly, the term “electric blanket” (74,300 google hits) is being replaced by the term “warming blanket” (90,300 google hits) due to marketing concerns. I found this last year when I was in the market for a blanket that plugged into the wall.:wink: