Sleep masks with headphones are designed to enable users to listen to music or sweeten sounds while blocking out light to help improve their sleep quality. Health professionals suggest this simple device to people who have sleep disorders as a remedy. The device is made of soft materials that hardly put pressure on your eyes while it helps provide a calm environment by preventing external noise from disturbing you.
Sleep masks with headphones work by combining their functionalities and establishing Bluetooth connectivity with your device.
Sleep disorder is a medical condition that hurts one’s sleep patterns leading to an impact on physical, mental, and social activities. According to reports, about 30% of the world’s population suffers from sleep disorders in one form or another. Sleep disorder is a major medical issue for an estimated 50 million people in the United States.
What are the benefits of using a sleep mask with headphones?
- Blocking light creates a dark environment that is conducive to sleep. Medical studies show that a dark environment triggers the body to produce melatonin, the hormone that forces sleep.
- Listen to audio: The device allows you to listen to music, or audiobooks without the help of an external headphone. Listening to music or white noise particularly helps reduce stress by lowering the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.
- Reduce eye strain: Using sleep masks with headphones can also help lessen eye strain and light sensitivity.
- Adds comfort: Sleep masks with headphones give added comfort to your eyes as they are made with soft, breathable materials.
- Convenience: Side sleepers particularly find sleep masks with headphones very convenient to use
How to choose a good sleep mask with headphones?
Consider the following points to help select a good sleep mask with headphones
Materials Used: The best material for sleep masks is silk, followed by cotton. Silk because of its softness, and hypoallergenic properties. Silk tends to reduce friction against the skin, and hair and prevent potential wrinkles around the eyes. Cotton is found suitable as it is breathable, washable, and affordable.
Design: Of the common designs such as flat masks, contoured masks, and weighted sleep masks, most people prefer contoured masks as they come with cups that fit easily to the eye area. Flat masks tend to cause issues with their long eyelash extensions, while weighted sleep masks can be suitable as they apply gentle pressure on your eyes.
Size: Sleep masks come in different sizes. Pick the one that properly fits around your eye and nose area, that leaves no gap for light to enter. Also check for the comfortable one from those with elastic straps, adjustable elastic straps, or velcro closure.
Can sleep masks with headphones help with insomnia?
Sleep mask with headphones is not a cure-all remedy to your sleep-related issues. Each one of the problems has to be addressed with proper medical treatment depending on the intensity of the underlying issue.
However, sleep masks with headphones probably can solve the issue of insomnia at a moderate level for two obvious reasons.
One that the device can block light, and then let you listen to music or white sounds, both functions will help create a cool environment to fall asleep quickly. However, this only serves as supplementary to other healthy sleep practices suggested by a qualified health practitioner.
What other remedies are suggested to address sleep disorders?
We can find various remedies to address sleep disorders, including relaxation techniques such as massage therapy, meditation, and yoga. Regular physical activity enjoys a high success rate in fighting sleeplessness.
Slightly adjusting your habits, like watching TV, or reading on a computer or mobile near bedtime, can help promote better sleep.
Other common solutions include:
- Stay away from caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine before bedtime.
- Regular exercise or physical activity
- Give up the habit of the afternoon nap
- Improve restraining your thoughts and actions that interfere with your sleep
- Take melatonin supplements or herbs with the consent of your doctor.
- Reading interesting topics or listening to music or other relaxation measures
What are the other alternatives to sleep masks with headphones
There are various alternatives to sleep masks with headphones including traditional sleep masks made from materials like silk or memory foam. They are also comfortable to your face blocking light from reaching your eyes but without the audio facility.
For audio options, you can look for sleep headphones or sleep headbands. There are also devices like white noise machines or apps that can create a pleasant sound environment sans the mask.
You can also create a dark environment, conducive to sleep the traditional way; by using blackout curtains, cooling sheets, and clothes, On a lighter tone, you can bring an almost similar effect by wrapping a light towel around your eyes and head.
Conclusion
Sleep masks with headphones are a good solution to address sleep disorders. The device combines the functionalities of the mask and headphones to block light and allow you to listen to music or white noise.
However, wearing a sleep mask built-in with headphones will serve only as a supplementary measure to various other sleep practices. This includes medical treatment and probably some drastic changes in your lifestyle practices.
Apart from using a sleep mask with headphones, you can rely on other devices such as sleep masks, sleep headphones, earbuds, white noise machines, or dark curtains in the bedroom.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider before implementing any suggested solutions or treatments for sleep disorders, insomnia, tinnitus, or related conditions.