You must have heard that a hot sauna session after gymming can be very relaxing and good for body detoxification. For hundreds of years, Scandinavians have used saunas for the benefits of relaxation, weight loss, and cleansing. Recent research has indicated that the benefits of sauna are mixed. If you are thinking of adding a sauna to your wellness and health routine, have a look at the features first.
Steam room versus sauna
You might have wondered about the difference between a steam room and a sauna. After all, both of them are used to promote sweating. The difference is in the type of heat they use. Sauna produces dry heat from hot coals or stoves to escalate the temperature of the room all the way to 195°F with very low humidity levels.
While on the other hand, steam rooms work by involving moist heat. They usually operate at lower temperatures around 110 to 120°F and with 100% relative humidity.
Sauna benefits
On entering a sauna, your pulse rate increases, your temperature rises, and the blood vessels start to dilate. This happens because your heart starts to pump more blood. You also start to sweat. There are certain benefits to experiencing this on a regular basis.
Relaxation
Traditionally, saunas have been used to make people feel relaxed. As the heart rate increases, the blood vessels dilate, the blood flow to the skin increases. Sauna also improves the blood circulation of people.
Sauna activates your parasympathetic nervous system to maintain the balance of temperature in your body. The endocrine glands also come in to help regulate this response. The body’s reaction to heat makes people less receptive to pain, induces feelings of elation, and makes them more alert. The heat also relaxes the muscles in your face and neck. If you want, you can practice meditation while taking a sauna.
Pain relief
When the blood vessels relax and start to dilate, there is an increase in the blood flow. This can cause reduction in the tension in joints and cause relief from sore muscles. Saunas also help those people who are suffering from arthritis and chronic pain issues. A recent study has observed that people suffering from chronic musculoskeletal diseases like ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid authorities faced reduced levels of pain, fatigue, and stiffness after four weeks of sauna sessions.
Disadvantages of sauna
Dehydration
If you stay even for a short period of time in a sauna, you will lose a pint of sweat. Therefore, the person must drink plenty of water before and after the use of the sauna to keep the body hydrated. It is not advised to stay in a sauna for a prolonged period of time since this increases the dehydration risk.
A few other disadvantages of the sauna are weight loss, production of toxins, and reduction in fertility. You must understand your body, its needs and then decide whether you should go for sure or not. If you want to gain more information about sauna, click here – https://litcore.ie/thermowood/sauna.
