By now you know we’re passionate about sleep. And we understand that sometimes it takes more than a (really) comfortable Sealy mattress to help you get those zzzzz’s. Nowadays, many people choose to fall asleep with earphones in, listening to music, a podcast or a guided meditation. The problem is most earphones are not designed for sleeping with.
If you regularly fall asleep with earphones in, you will find this blog post useful as we highlight the pros and cons. Let’s start with the benefits.
The pros of sleeping with earphones
- Better relaxation. Listening to the right kind of music will help your body relax and slow your heart rate down, helping you to fall into a deep sleep.
- More feel-good chemicals. Listening to music encourages your brain to release dopamine, a happy hormone that helps you sleep more easily.
- Drown out external noise. Listening to music helps block out external noise from noisy urban environments, loud neighbours or a snoring paratner.
The cons of sleeping with earphones
- Listening at a high volume, and keeping earphones plugged in, exerts pressure inside your ears and could result in long-term damage.
- Earphones will block the air circulation around your ear, which could result in a build up of ear wax. If it is left to build up over a long period, it would have to be removed by a professional and even then, it might cause damage to your ears.
- If your ear canal becomes irritated, you could develop conditions called Otitis Externa or Necrosis. The ear canal connects the outer ear to the eardrum, and if the skin in the ear canal gets irritated or begins to wear out, it’s easier for fluid to get into the ear and you are at a greater risk of having ear infections.
- It’s helpful to block out external noises, but sometimes that can be dangerous too. You might not hear emergency signals, like a smoke alarm, or other dangers in your home.
Choosing the best earphones for sleep
Headphones or earphones with wires are a strangulation risk. Rather invest in Bluetooth earphones. Select earphones that come with multiple ear pieces so you can choose the ear piece that fits most comfortably in your ear. There are multiple earphones on the market, designed specifically for sleep – like SleepPhones Wireless, where the earphones are fitted inside a comfy headband that makes it easier and more comfortable to listen to music while sleeping.
