The Drugstore Item I Can't Live Without

It’s important to note up front that I never had a childhood security blanket. Instead, I pulled my floral-patterned Laura Ashley comforter over my head to lull me into a deep sleep. I walked into my first slumber party exclusively toting an ugly canvas sleeping bag. At overnight camp, I nursed my homesickness by writing letters. Remember Linus from Peanuts? Yeah, I thought his fuzzy blue attachment was slightly pathetic.

But at 50, I have seen the light!!! Or, to be more specific, felt the warmth. Yes, I have now become so reliant on my own special blue covering that I wouldn’t blame Charlie Brown and Lucy for laughing at me. But in my defense, it instantaneously soothes my anxieties while easing every ache and pain. I keep it close by at all times so it’s always ready to go. And to procure it, I just had to go to the drugstore on my corner and stroll past the vitamin aisle.

Thank you forever, heating pad.

Now I know what you’re thinking, and you’re right. Heating pads are an old-people thing. Might as well slather on the bengay, find the Preparation H and drink a cup of Alka Seltzer with a side of chicken noodle soup. I can confirm that my baby boomer mom has sworn by her heating pad for decades like a religious zealot, eliciting many eye rolls from yours truly. I’m still convinced the oversized one she uses is an artifact from 1986 . . .  said with love! But I’m done with the judgment — especially when putting a cozy heating pad on nearly every part of my body from the head down has become essential to my well-being. Though, come to think of it, I once placed it on the back of my head, too.

Back pain? Abdominal cramps and bloating? Heartburn? Shoulder and elbow fatigue? I suffer from all the above, thanks to my unfortunate status of being a professional writer with terrible posture who lugs heavy groceries, suffers from a host of GI issues and has spent years jogging on various New York City pavements. I used to just solve my feelings of “off”-ness with over-the-counter meds. Then, a few years ago, I finally gave in to the drugstore-brand heating pad. I figured that it literally couldn’t hurt. Sure, the purchase meant that I had to accept that I was no longer young-ish and vibrant-ish. But at the risk of sounding like a written infomercial, the device worked like a thermally conductive charm.

There actually is a medical reason behind the effectiveness, per a Cedars-Sinai hospital article (as well as many other sources). When you warm up an aching joint or muscle with heat therapy, blood vessels get bigger. This allows more blood, oxygen and nutrients to travel to the injured tissues. A better and bolstered circulation = more relaxation for stiff muscles and joints all over your body and relief. A 2018 National Library of Medicine study even concluded that a heating pad for female patients with stress urinary incontinence can enhance comfort and decrease pain.

The emotional X factor can’t be discounted, either. Even if I’m not in physical pain, plopping a heating pad on my stomach totally, like, heals my soul and makes me feel like everything is going to be alright. Why? Because warmth is good, according to a University of Colorado study. Similar to a space blanket, the sensation can help stimulate the production of serotonin and dopamine — the “feel-good” hormonal neurotransmitters in your brain. This, in turn, promotes relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety and improves mood. Yay.