The Benefits to Health of a Sauna

A sauna should be used as a way of relaxing from the very busy lives that we lead. There are though some medical benefits that we will explain below:

The Effect on Blood Pressure
Rather than increase blood pressure it has been shown that blood pressure lowers in the sauna. Studies show that the capillaries expand increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure. When people feel faint it is due to low blood pressure rather than high blood pressure.

The Sauna and Alcohol
It is common in Scandinavian countries to take alcohol into the sauna. Studies have looked at the effect of high Alcohol consumption and the effect on saunas and result suggest that with high levels of Alcohol in the body, blood pressure drops rather than rises. The rate at which blood pressure drops is faster in those that have drunk a lot of alcohol.

Weight loss
A sauna does increase the heart rate which is similar to walking. A sauna should not replace exercise as part of a weight loss or exercise program . Exercise increases muscle strength and size therefore increasing the bodies metabolic rate. Any weight lost in a sauna is soon regained once you replace the lost body fluid.

Cleansing the body from toxins
Saunas induce sweating to provide a comprehensive cleansing of the skin and sweat glands. Skin is the largest organ in the body .with 30% of body waste eliminated through the skin. Profuse sweating enhances the detoxifying capacity of the skin by opening pores and flushing impurities from the body. Stored body impurities within fatty tissue are released under the high temperatures allowing the body to eliminate them via perspiration or the intestinal tract.

The Sauna and Cholesterol
High Cholesterol sufferers have claimed that taking saunas reduced their cholesterol rate. Note though there is no scientific evidence to back this up.

The Sauna and Sweating
Body fluid is lost through sweating, some people complain about feeling faint and put this down to loss of body fluid, it is more likely due to a drop in blood pressure as mentioned above. Body fluids can be replaced very easily by taking a drink after the sauna.

Hygiene
Studies in Germany compared two groups of school children, one which took a sauna each week and a group that did not. The children were followed for 18 months and the incidence of ear infections, colds and upper respiratory tract infections were much lower than those that did not have a sauna. The same results would be expected in adults.

Fertility
There is no evidence which supports the theory that saunas affect fertility. In Nordic countries where sauna usage is high higher infertility has not been found.

The Sauna and Sports
The sauna is a great way to recuperate after grueling exercise.

Other factors
Other benefits of a sauna are: Relief from the pain and stiffness of arthritis. Steam is an excellent treatment for respiratory problems, such as; chest congestion, bronchitis, laryngitis and sinusitis. Revives tired and strained muscles after physical exertion. The cleansing effect of profuse perspiration helps provide healthy skin and a clear complexion.

This article is courtesy of Saunas