Ways In Which Saunas And Steam Rooms Benefit Health

While the concept of a sauna or steam room may seem relatively new, they have actually been around for thousands of years. In fact, even the Mayans assembled sweat houses they used for medicinal purposes as far back as three thousand years ago. Since then, the use and technology of saunas and steam houses have improved and become even more popular. Celebrities, athletes, and even just regular individuals have found benefits worth seeking after using a steam house. Besides just relaxing the body, the steam house has been said to improve many aspects of everyone's health. Get to know the biggest health benefits users of steam houses and saunas embrace now.

Remove Toxins From The Body

One of the key reasons individuals use saunas is because they remove toxins from the body. In food and the environment, individuals are constantly taking in toxins and heavy metals. These toxins and heavy metals don't leave the body as easily as many individuals might like. Instead, they typically become taken up into the fat cells where they are stored for some time. The toxins can sometimes help the development of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and other conditions that can greatly impact the body and mind. Considering the degree of damage they can do, finding means to remove them from the body is important. However, because they lurk in the fat cells and other places that are difficult to break down, the traditional methods aren't always the most effective or affordable. For a regular way to remove toxins from the body, individuals can sit in a sauna or steam house and just sweat. For years, individuals have touted the power of sweating and how it removes toxins. The sauna lets users do just that: sweat.

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Promote Muscle Recovery

Athletes have long used a sauna or steam room to help them recover after training. This is because of the relaxing effects saunas provide. Within the warm temperature, athletes are able to relax. Their muscles, which are likely high in cortisol and lactate, are heated. This increase in temperature promotes certain processes within the body to remove those molecules and instead allow the muscle to relax. For athletes who have to undergo a lot of training in a short amount of time, then a sauna that promotes muscle recovery is an excellent addition for a post-exercise routine. It also helps remove nitrogen from the body by having it leave through the skin through perspiration. Typically, nitrogen is produced by the breakdown of certain proteins to create energy during an exercise. By removing nitrogen, individuals can further help their body recover. Since individuals can lose a lot of water weight in a sauna, shedding a few pounds is also beneficial, as it can remove the strain on muscles.

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Lower Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is essentially the force that allows blood to move through the veins and arteries. Without it, the blood wouldn't be able to deliver oxygen and other nutrients to cells and organs. However, it is important for blood pressure to be kept in a normal range. Too low blood pressure means the body isn't receiving the nutrients it needs to function and can start to shut down. High blood pressure (hypertension) could result in too much oxygen being pumped into cells and organs and this can severely damage them, as well as increasing the risk for many conditions, including heart attacks. Saunas and steam houses are often used by hypertension patients because the steam lowers blood pressure. This is likely because it relaxes the body and opens the arteries to allow for easier blood flow through the body. It might also because the toxins in the blood are removed.

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Clears Up Congestion

If individuals are suffering from asthma or are nursing a cold, a sauna or steam house may be the perfect answer because it clears up congestion. When individuals sit in a sauna, the hot temperature and steam actually help open their nasal and bronchial passages, allowing oxygen and air to be taken in more easily. In addition, the heat and steam can help remove the excess mucus building up in these passages as well.

So, if patients are feeling a little stuffed up, the steam and heat from a sauna could be the perfect treatment for clearing their congestion right up. Overall, the sauna could actually improve their immunity too. Some studies showed individuals who used a sauna suffered from fewer colds, on average. This is likely because the warm temperature acts almost like a fever and can kill bacteria inside the body and clear congested sinuses.

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Improves Circulation

Because steam rooms and saunas have such a powerful effect on lowering blood pressure, they also improve an individual's circulation. By heating up the body, individuals can make their blood vessels start to expand. Moisture, too, tends to make the body swell. With the expansion of blood vessels, the blood circulation improves. Because it improves circulation, saunas and steam houses have also been known to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Without a healthy heart, individuals risk cardiac arrest or other serious consequences. In addition, with improved circulation, individuals can often fend off other diseases and conditions like diabetes, because insulin also travels through the bloodstream to reach its targeted areas. By improving circulation, individuals better the ability of insulin to do its job.

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Reduces Stress

Sauna and steam room use reduces stress in several ways. First, the body increases its release of endorphins, the so-called 'feel-good' chemicals associated with cardiovascular exercise. As the hormones course through blood, a deep sense of calm develops. Endorphins also reduce pain in the body. The body’s stress reduction mechanism is related to a concept called hermetic stress in which the body, when exposed to limited amounts of therapeutic stress like sauna exposure, adapts and becomes more resilient to stressors. Because of the hermetic stress effect, the benefits extend well beyond the time spent in a sauna or steam room as the body’s nervous system becomes stronger and more flexible. The immune system, which is closely connected to stress levels, also benefits from exposure to heat in a sauna or steam room.

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Some Relief From Asthma

Among the many systems that benefit from sauna or steam room exposure is the cardiovascular system. This includes respiration, showing promise for alleviating breathing problems, particularly asthma. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Extreme asthma attacks can even sometimes be fatal. Some relief from asthma can be achieved through sauna therapy because the heat relaxes the bronchiole muscles, mitigating these symptoms. It also loosens phlegm and mucus, which can clear the throat of debris. While medication for controlling asthma is important, using saunas and steam rooms can aid in further recovery from asthma symptoms. The relaxing hormonal benefits mentioned previously also contribute to relief from asthma.

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May Reduce Risk Of Alzheimer' s Disease And Dementia

Studies have shown saunas and steam rooms may reduce an individual's risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Preventing cognitive decline is a serious concern, especially for the aging population. As individuals get older, their susceptibility to potentially debilitating neurological problems increases. Saunas may reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. A variety of healthy practices may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. For example, responsible whole-food diet and regular exercise have been demonstrated to delay the onset or progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other brain-related problems. Saunas and steam rooms also benefit long-term brain health. In fact, one large-scale study conducted in Finland showed sauna use decreased the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease by more than sixty-five percent compared to those who never or rarely used saunas.

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May Improve Cardiovascular Health

The effects of saunas and steam rooms that may improve cardiovascular health are well-documented. Maintaining optimal cardiovascular function is crucial to overall well-being and longevity. Sauna use has been shown to reduce hypertension, which is linked to cardiovascular decline. Saunas and steam rooms also mimic the beneficial effects of cardiovascular exercise, which is a known factor in preventing heart disease, by increasing the heart rate to 120 beats per minute or more. Furthermore, saunas and steam rooms cause the arteries to become more resilient to stress. According to one study, regular use of saunas can steam rooms can reduce the incidence of fatal heart attacks by as much as fifty percent.

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Relief From Itching Due To Psoriasis

A large number of individuals suffer from psoriasis, a skin condition in which the skin cells to build up on the skin, which becomes scaly and discolored. This skin often cracks and becomes itchy. Relief from psoriasis can come from a number of lifestyle modifications as well as sauna and steam room use. Stress management, which steam heat therapy contributes to, can significantly reduce psoriasis as well. Improved function of the immune system achieved through sauna and steam room use also provides relief from itching due to psoriasis. Improved blood flow is another mechanism through which psoriasis can be reduced. Inflammation is also linked to psoriasis, and many studies have shown anti-inflammatory effects of sauna and steam room use.