What effects does the sauna have on our body?
There are two types of saunas: the best known is probably the Finnish sauna, but the modern infrared cabin has now also secured a permanent place in many private homes. The main difference between an infrared cabin and a traditional Finnish sauna is the method used to heat the body. In a traditional sauna, the air serves as a buffer between the direct heat source and the sauna-goers.
The temperature in the room is between 80 and 100 °C (176 to 212 °F). When our internal temperature rises, we sweat to cool down. In an infrared cabin, heat is emitted by radiation: 20 percent of the radiant heat warms the air, while the other 80 percent is converted directly into body heat. The temperature in an infrared cabin is dry and comfortable and is about 65 degrees Celsius (149 °F).
These cabins can work either with short-wave or long-wave radiation. The first has a profound effect and heats the body up to the elastic fibers and muscle attachment points. The second has a less profound effect and heats the air strongly, similar to a Finnish sauna.
What effect does a (conventional) sauna have on the body?
The human body has an internal thermostat that maintains a constant temperature of 37 degrees Celsius (98,6 °F). When you go to the sauna, your skin warms up before the rest of your body. The pores open, the sweat glands start working and we sweat.
In reality, it is our thermostat that cools the body by expelling the evaporated water. At the same time, the blood vessels in the skin dilate, increasing blood flow to the skin. While normally only 5 to 10 percent of blood flows through the skin, this number can increase to 50 to 70 percent in the sauna.
To maintain this process, our heart beats faster. In the sauna, the heart rate can be twice as high as at rest, for example after an intense workout. During cooling, the vessels contract again, which increases their flexibility. The skin on the body becomes firmer, healthier and more resistant.
A sauna-goer who saunas regularly loses between 0.5 and 1.0 liters of fluid per session
For the evaporation of sweat, energy is released from the skin in the form of heat. This reaction can only be triggered by intense sweating in a sauna. Sweat evaporates more easily when the air is hot and extremely dry. Sweating not only removes excess water from the body, but also removes toxins and metabolic waste products such as lactic acid from the muscles. For this reason, a visit to the sauna is a good way to detoxify the body from the inside. Due to the loss of water during the sauna session, it is important to rehydrate immediately after sweating.
Sauna influences our hormones
The hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands form the so-called “hormone axis”, which is stimulated. As a result, hormones associated with “stress” are released. As a result, we experience a variety of positive changes, including increased physical vitality and concentration, decreased sensitivity to pain, and an overall sense of well-being. In other words, this explains why it feels so good when we come out of the sauna.
The heat of a sauna has a beneficial effect on the muscles
Because the heat promotes blood circulation, sore, overworked muscles can recover more quickly. People who suffer from rheumatism, chronic back pain, or mobility problems in their bones and joints can also benefit from a sauna session.
Purifying effect of the skin in the sauna
The dilation of blood vessels and the opening of pores in the sauna have a deep cleansing effect on the skin. Sweating can flush out toxins of all kinds. When the body is cooled down, the opposite happens: blood vessels and pores close as well as possible. The horny skin scales are also loosened by the sweat and can be easily washed off in the shower. Therefore, after the sauna session, the skin is more elastic and feels more supple.
Sauna activates the immune system
Every visit to the sauna strengthens your immune system. The high heat raises your core body temperature by one to two degrees Celsius. In this feverish state, leukocytes and other immune cells are activated, causing the body to ramp up its production of immune substances.
Beneficial for the respiratory tract and lungs
Our lungs are a very sensitive and dynamic organ. Unfortunately, many people experience respiratory problems due to illness. Painful coughing, shortness of breath or a tightness in the chest can be the result of a persistent immunological reaction of the body. Constant bronchial constriction is a common cause of these symptoms. Acute shortness of breath can be prevented by taking a sauna and releasing muscle tension.
In addition, the hormone cortisol is released in greater quantities. The stress hormone cortisol accelerates a number of metabolic processes and suppresses the immune system. These properties have long been used by conventional medicine as a means of reducing inflammation and calming the body’s natural responses.
Life expectancy can be extended
A study conducted by researchers at Finland’s Eastern University found that frequent sauna use is associated with longer life expectancy. Continuous exercise of the cardiovascular system has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death. Weekly sauna use reduces the risk by 20%, and four to seven sauna sessions per month reduces the risk by nearly 65%. Sauna sessions have a calming effect on the body and mind, which is an often overlooked aspect of their therapeutic value. Mental health, physical fitness, sleep quality, stress resistance, and overall well-being are greatly influenced by the pleasant and vibrant body sensation that occurs over time.
Conclusion
Overall, sauna has a positive and health-promoting effect for many people. However, the various health benefits of sauna bathing require that you go to the sauna regularly. If you are unsure whether a sauna is right for you, be sure to talk to your doctor beforehand.
Sauna infusion for the respiratory system:
Spitzner Sauna Infusion Wellness Lemongrass
Florage Sauna Infusion Anise-Fennel
Warda Sauna Infusion Cedarwood
AllgäuQuelle Sauna Infusion – Eucalyptus Mint Sage Cajeput
