Get a good nights sleep with our sleep mask.
Sleep masks have maintained their basic form and function over the years, but they have also taken on new functions as people have found creative uses for them. For example, sleep masks that aid in lucid dreaming have been produced. These masks emit lights and generate sounds when a person reaches the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. These stimuli cue the dreamer that he or she is in a dream, which triggers lucidity. Sleeping masks can also be useful just as a way of depriving visual stimuli. By denying the sense of sight, people slightly enhance their other senses. This can, for example, produce a great appreciation for music or increase tactile sensitivity. The deprivation of sight is an aid for meditation as well. Blocking the world out helps people stay within themselves while meditating. Another great use for sleeping masks is to relieve claustrophobia in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) patients. Patients have found that a sleeping mask helps reduce the stress of undergoing these tests, which occur in confined MRI scanners.
Over recent years, the appearance of sleeping masks has developed along with their function, making them more diverse. Some masks are large enough to envelop the entire head, providing ear muffs, a pillow in back, and preventing a person’s hair from looking disordered when they wake. Even some smaller masks are available with ear pillows to block out unwanted sound. Some sleeping masks are now made out of foam that conforms to facial contours. New magnetic masks have been developed to boost circulation, increase melatonin production, and relieve sinus pressure, all while the wearer rests comfortably. Sleeping masks are now available in a multitude of colors and styles, including masks shaped like cats and unique children’s designs.
A 2002 study from Harvard University (ScienceDaily, July 2, 2002) emphasizes the importance of sleep and suggests that “power napping” can add to workers’ productivity. “Power napping” is the term for reinvigorating midday naps that last 30-90 minutes. The Harvard study shows that the bonus slow-wave and REM sleep provided by a nap can boost motor skills as well as memory retention and the acquisition of perceptual task skills. A nap halts the deterioration of worker performance, which naturally declines throughout the day. This is especially helpful for workers with irregular shifts, who are more likely to experience sleep difficulties. Another study (ScienceDaily, February 13, 2007) found that a regular afternoon nap can lead to a 37% decrease in the risk of cardiac death. For working men, the number was an astonishing 64% reduction. The importance of napping makes sleep masks all the more valuable. A sleep mask is especially useful for taking a midday nap when the sun is up and a completely dark room is difficult to find. By helping people nap, sleep masks can prove very beneficial for maintaining health.