Sauna is a popular therapy, and it has been used for many years. People can get relaxation through a sauna.
Three thousand years ago, the Mayans invented saunas in the form of sweet houses. Thousands of years ago, saunas were used in Finland, and still, 1 in 3 people in Finland use them.
The major benefits of saunas are for cardiovascular health and relaxation. However, we should remember that saunas are not appropriate for all.
Usually, a sauna refers to a closed room heated up to between 158° to 212° F or 70° to 100° C. Finnish-style saunas generally use dry heat, keeping humidity between 10-20%. In other types, a higher moisture level is maintained.
A rise in skin temperature causes heavy sweating. As a result, heart rate also increases because the body tries to bring body temperature down. It is common to lose around a pint of sweat in one single sauna session.
Different Sauna Types
There are various types of saunas. The types of saunas depend on the heating process. These are:
Wood burning: Wood-burning saunas have low humidity and high temperature. It is used to heat the sauna room and sauna rocks.
Electrically heated: As like their wood-burning counterparts, electrically-heated saunas also maintain high temperature and low humidity. This process depends on an electrical heater attached to the floor.
Infrared room: In this process, a special lamp produces light waves to heat a person’s body instead of the room. Generally, in this process, the room temperature is not as much as other saunas, but the effect is pretty similar. Usually, infrared saunas maintain a temperature of around 60° C. Far-infrared saunas (FIRS) are very different from wood-burning and electrically-heated saunas.
Some Health Benefits of Sauna Sessions
Though there are different types of sauna, the health benefits are almost the same.
When someone takes a sauna, his/her heart rate rises, also their blood vessels expand. It also increases circulation, just like light physical exercises. This means, sauna sessions can give you similar benefits as physical activities, without you doing the activity in the first place.
Heart rate can rise to 100-150 beats per minute when we use a sauna. That may provide more health benefits to your body.
Easing pain
Increased circulation can help decrease muscle soreness, reduce arthritis pain, and make joint movements more flexible.
Stress Level Reduction
Sauna sessions improve circulation through heat. It also provides relaxation. It can well-being and reduce stress levels.
Cardiovascular Health Improvement
As we already know, a sauna helps reduce the stress level, so it may also be connected to lower cardiovascular disease risk. A study in Finland included 2,315 men, aging from 42 to 60. The subjects were observed for over 20 years. The findings of the study confirmed that sauna users have a lower risk of getting affected by cardiovascular disease. Other studies also have some relevant proof that the risk of heart diseases will lower by using a sauna. It is also helpful to reduce the blood pressure problem and enhance heart functions. So that may also be connected to improve one’s cardiovascular health. Though the sauna is beneficial, regular exercises are also essential to improve heart conditions and keep your body healthy. So we should not skip regular exercise.
Solution to Skin Issues
A sauna session may help to reduce the symptoms of posarias, but who have atopic dermatitis shouldn’t use it. It also enhances collagen production, thereby strengthening and rejuvenating the complexion.
Get smooth skin with sauna:
We all prefer fresh and smooth skin. When you get into the sauna, the temperature increases your blood circulation. This circulation gives your skin a healthy and fresh appearance as if you were coming straight from the skiing slope or a run in the woods.
Asthma
People who have asthma problems can get rid of some symptoms with the help of sauna sessions. A sauna can help loosen phlegm, open airways, and reduce stress.
The sauna can burn calories:
Did you know that an hour in the sauna or in a hot bath burns calories? It is a rise in body temperature that has this effect. Research indicates that you can burn as much calories from a sauna session as you can from going for a run.
When to avoid saunas
Some specific health conditions are not suitable for saunas. If you have the following health problems, don’t forget to consult with a doctor before taking it.
- Breathing conditions like asthma
- Heart conditions
- Pregnancy
- Neurological disorder
- Blood pressure problem
- Alcoholic
Forensic Science published a study in their Journal that showed that the number of deaths due to sauna use was very rare (less than 2 per 100,000 inhabitants). 51% percent of deaths were due to natural causes, and 25% were related to heat exposure. Half of all deaths happening in saunas were in people under the influence of alcohol, and most were alone.
When you use a sauna, it is like taking your skin body-wide down into a moisturizer. Every person should take a sauna as a part of their health care routine. It not only protects and treats the skin, but it prevents and manages signs of aging. After a few weeks of use, you can actually come out looking younger than when you started.
Tips:
- One should avoid alcohol when taking a sauna. Or else it will increase the risk of dehydration.
- People need to drink 2-4 glasses of water right after taking a sauna session.
- Don’t spend over 20 minutes.
- During pregnancy and other medical conditions, do not use the sauna.
- Children under the age of 6 are not suitable for a sauna.
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