Saunas have been used for thousands of years and are still
popular. The sauna can help people relax and unwind, and has other health benefits.
Sweating has long been used as a therapy. According to
Harvard Health Publications, the Maya used steam houses 3,000 years ago. In Finland,
saunas have been in use for thousands of years, and one in three Finns still
use them. It is believed that there are over a million saunas in the United
States (USA).
The main benefits offered for saunas are relaxation and
cardiovascular health. However, the sauna is not for everyone.
Fast facts on saunas
Here are some key
points about saunas. More detail is in the main article.
A sauna is a room
in which people aim to relax in dry heat.
It may provide
benefits for cardiovascular health that resemble those derived from exercise.
Drinking alcohol
before or during a sauna can be dangerous.
Anyone who has a
cardiovascular problem or who is pregnant should seek medical advice before
using a sauna.
What is a sauna
A sauna is usually a room that heats up to 70 to 100 °
Celsius or 158 to 212 ° Fahrenheit.
Traditional Finnish saunas typically use dry heat with a
relative humidity of 10 to 20 percent. In other types of saunas, the humidity
is higher. For example, Turkish-style saunas have higher humidity levels.
Using a sauna can raise your skin temperature to about 40 °
Celsius or 104 ° Fahrenheit.
As the temperature of the skin rises, sweating also occurs.
The heart rate increases as the body try to stay cool. Often about half a
liter of sweat is lost during a short stay in the sauna.
Types of saunas
Burning with wood: wood is used to heat the sauna and
sauna stones. Wood-fired saunas tend to have low humidity and high
temperatures.
Electric heating: like wood-fired saunas,
electrically heated saunas have high temperatures and low humidity. An electric
heater, attached to the floor, heats the sauna.
Infrared room - Far infrared saunas (FIRS) are different
from wood-fired and electrically heated saunas. Special lamps use light waves
to heat the human body, not the entire room. The temperature is usually lower
than in other saunas, but the person sweats in the same way. Infrared saunas
usually have a temperature of around 60 ° Celsius.
Steam bath: these are different from saunas. Instead
of dry heat, the steam room assumes high humidity and damp heat.
Possible health benefits
Regardless of the temperature in the sauna or the level of
humidity, the effects on the body are the same.
When a person sits in a sauna, his pulse quickens and his
blood vessels dilate. It increases blood circulation, as with mild to moderate
exercise, depending on the length of time you use the sauna.
The heart rate can increase up to 100-150 beats per minute
when using the sauna. It can provide health benefits.
Skin problems
A dry sauna dries the skin during use. Some people with
psoriasis may find their symptoms improve with sauna use, but people with
atopic dermatitis may find that they get worse.
Blood pressure risks
It is not recommended to switch between sauna heat and cold
pool water as this can increase blood pressure.
Sauna use can also lead to a drop in blood pressure, so
people with low blood pressure should talk to their doctor to make sure it is
safe to use the sauna.
People who have recently had a heart attack should also talk
to their doctor first.
