Key Takeaways -
- Taking a sauna has countless physical and mental advantages, such as bettering your cardiovascular health, providing relaxation and stress relief, ridding your body of toxins, nurturing skin wellbeing, and even alleviating pain.
- Before utilizing a sauna, consult your doctor as soon as possible; this is especially important if you are expecting or have any existing medical conditions.
- To stay cool and energized, hydrate often and take frequent breaks during your session.
You may have heard of the physical benefits of using a sauna, but do you know exactly what they are?
Saunas provide numerous health benefits, such as improved circulation, weight loss, detoxification, relaxation and relief from pain. The fact that these advantages are widespread has made saunas popular around the world.
Ready to improve your physical and psychological wellbeing? Read on! In this article, we’ll explore the various benefits of using a sauna while offering insight into how regular use can provide both immediate relief from stress as well as long-term health maintenance.
So get comfortable, and let’s explore the many benefits of incorporating a sauna into your life.
Understanding Saunas and How They Work
You may be wondering what a sauna is and how it works. A sauna is an ENCLOSED room or area filled with either hot steam or dry, heated air.
There are two types of saunas:
- Traditional
- Modern
Traditional Finnish saunas are typically constructed from NATURAL materials like wood, while modern saunas use electric heating elements or gas heaters to keep the room at a certain temperature.
The temperature in a sauna can RANGE from 80°F (27°C) to 120°F (49°C), while the humidity can range between 10-40%. When you enter a sauna, your body experiences many physical and mental health benefits of using a sauna regularly.
Pro Tip: Make sure to stay hydrated when using a sauna, as your body needs extra water to help keep it cool [1].
The Health Benefits of Using a Sauna
Using a sauna room regularly can benefit your overall HEALTH and well-being. Here are some of the key advantages:
Cardiovascular System Improvement
Cardiovascular System Improvement is one of the benefits of using a sauna. Increasing your body temperature helps to INCREASE your heart rate and circulation, providing an effective way to burn calories and improve blood flow.
Blood pressure may also benefit from regular sauna use, as it helps to LOWER your resting heart rate. This can help reduce the risk of certain cardiovascular diseases.
It has also been proven to reduce stress HORMONES in the body, improving mental and physical health overall. When used regularly, an infrared sauna can help to strengthen the cardiovascular system and keep it in optimal condition.
Pro Tip: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide [2], and using a traditional or infrared sauna can help to reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
Improved Detoxification
Sweating helps to flush out TOXINS while increasing circulation of the lymphatic system helping the body rid itself of impurities that can lead to disease and illness and improving overall immunity by helping your body eliminate waste.
Regular sauna bathing also helps to improve overall IMMUNITY by helping your body to eliminate waste more effectively.
Weight Loss Benefits
One of the major benefits of sauna bathing is improved WEIGHT LOSS. Saunas increase metabolism, leading to increased calorie burn while in the sauna and afterwards due to the sweat left on the skin after exiting the session.
Drinking plenty of FLUIDS during and after a session helps flush out toxins from the body, which can lead to improved weight loss when combined with healthy eating habits.
Pro Tip: For optimal weight loss results, combine regular sauna use with a healthy diet and exercise plan.
Increased Flexibility and Mobility
One of the lesser-known benefits of sauna use is increased flexibility and MOBILITY. The heat from the sauna helps to loosen tight muscles, allowing for easier stretching and movement in a session or after exiting it.
This improved flexibility can also help improve POSTURE due to relaxed muscles around joints, spine, neck, etc., which can relieve pain caused by stiffness or tension. Additionally, regular use of a sauna can help reduce stress hormones contributing to decreased mobility.
Relaxation And Stress Relief
Infrared saunas can be a great way to relax, unwind and REDUCE stress. The warmth of the sauna room helps to induce relaxation as it increases body temperature and raises endorphin levels in the body. This can help reduce tension or anxiety while allowing for improved mental clarity.
When combined with other relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises or meditation, regular sauna sessions can be an EFFECTIVE way to reduce stress and relax both the mind and body.
Pro Tip: Ensure you only stay in the sauna for up to 20-30 minutes, as prolonged exposure can be harmful [3].
Improved Skin Health And Appearance
Infrared saunas can be beneficial for the skin. The heat from the sauna helps to open pores, allowing for improved circulation and removal of IMPURITIES that can cause acne or other skin issues.
In addition to improved circulation, regular use of a sauna can help improve COLLAGEN production in the skin, which leads to reduced wrinkles and improved skin elasticity, leading to a youthful appearance.
All these factors combine to make sauna use an effective way to improve skin health long-term.
Improved Sleep Quality
The heat from the sauna helps to relax muscles and induce drowsiness, making it EASIER to fall asleep faster at night.
Additionally, the improved relaxation benefits of a sauna session can help reduce stress levels and decrease cortisol production, both of which are major contributors to poor sleep QUALITY.
Regular use of a sauna can thus help improve the quality and LENGTH of sleep, leading to increased energy during the day.
Pro Tip: Try using a sauna before bedtime for optimal sleep quality benefits.
Boosted Immune System Functioning
Regular sauna use can help to BOOST the immune system functioning. The increased temperature helps to kickstart the body's natural healing process, which helps fight off infections and illnesses more effectively.
Additionally, sweating from a session helps FLUSH out toxins while increasing circulation of the lymphatic system, allowing the body to rid itself of impurities more efficiently.
Enhanced Mental Clarity And Focus
Sauna use can be a great way to improve mental clarity and focus. The heat from the sauna helps OPEN up blood vessels, allowing for better circulation of oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.
This increased oxygen flow helps to PROMOTE better brain functioning, leading to improved focus and alertness.
In addition, regular sauna use helps to reduce stress levels and improve overall relaxation, which can help clear the mind of distractions and allow for better focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can A Sauna Be Used To Detox The Body?
Consistent sauna use can be an effective detoxifier for the body. The heat from a sauna opens up pores and increases blood flow, purifying your system of unwanted toxins that may cause skin problems or exhaustion.
Furthermore, the sweat generated during a sauna session assists in removing toxins from the body efficiently.
Can a Sauna Be Used To Relieve Pain Caused By Chronic Conditions?
Yes, sauna use is a powerful tactic to alleviate chronic pain and stress. The heat can help relax tense muscles, reducing distress from ailments like fibromyalgia or arthritis.
Relaxation, coupled with the therapeutic warmth of the sauna, makes it an effective way for many individuals to reduce their discomfort levels significantly.
Can a Sauna Be Used To Relieve Tension Headaches?
Indeed, a sauna session is an excellent way to ease the pain of tension headaches. The combination of warmth and relaxation works to relax muscles in the head, neck and shoulders - ultimately decreasing pressure which leads to relief from headache symptoms.
Will A Sauna Help With A Stiff Neck?
Absolutely - taking a sauna can be an incredibly effective way to ease tension in your neck. Not only does the heat helps soothe any painful stiffness, but it also helps reduce muscle tightness and relaxes the area, ensuring lasting relief.
Conclusion
All in all, the perks of regular sauna usage prove invaluable. From reducing stress levels to aiding with weight loss and cardiovascular health – utilizing a sauna routinely comes with many remarkable benefits beyond just leisurely pleasure.
Now that you understand the numerous advantages of a sauna, why not add it to your regular health regime? A sauna can help improve circulation and reduce stress while increasing relaxation. With so many benefits, using a sauna is an easy way to enhance your overall well-being.
So what are you waiting for? Get ready to sweat and reap the rewards of a regular sauna session today.
Sources -
- HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD I DRINK IN A SAUNA? - HOME SAUNA HEAVEN. HOME SAUNA HEAVEN. Published December 11, 2020. Accessed January 26, 2023. https://homesaunaheaven.com/how-much-water-sauna#
- World. Cardiovascular diseases. Who.int. Published June 11, 2019. Accessed January 26, 2023. https://www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases#
- Clearlight Saunas. How Long Should You Stay In A Sauna For Maximum Health Benefits? Infraredsauna.co.uk. Published November 7, 2022. Accessed January 26, 2023. https://www.infraredsauna.co.uk/blog/how-long-should-you-stay-in-a-sauna-for-maximum-health-benefits#
Content editor, marketer and product tester. A regular contributor for the ‘Home And Garden’ and Modern Homes Magazines, now part of a close-knit team, I oversee all the content on Posh. All roads have led to this job which I love. I get to focus on my love of interior design and health and work with a fabulous team. The role brings me a good level of freedom to my family and me and keeps me productive
