Health Risks of Heated Mattress Pads

A heated mattress pad has risks as well as benefits.

Heated mattress pads provide warmth during cold nights, but there are some health risks to these comfort items as well. Not all people are safe lying on heated mattress pads.

Pregnancy

The risk of overheating the fetus makes heated mattress pads potentially dangerous for pregnant women.

Pacemakers

Those with pace makers have a slight risk the heated mattress pad will interfere with their device by skipping a beat, according to the American Heart Association.

Insensitivity

Anyone with heat insensitivity, like those with diabetes, should not use heated mattress pads because they could get burned without being aware.

Consideration

In the early 1990s there was concern that electromagnetic fields, like those found in heated mattress pads could cause cancer. Since then, manufactures have lowered electric blanket EMFs, according to ElectricBlanketInstitute.com.

Alternative

To eliminate the various risks, the Electric Blanket Institute suggests placing the heated mattress pad before laying down, and removing it before climbing into bed.

References

• ElectricBlanketInstitute.com
• American Heart Association