Sauna is good for the heart and a longer life
Training for the heart
This is mainly because the alternation of heat and cold protects the cardiovascular system. This alternation has about the same effect on us as sport. People who regularly go to the sauna increase their fitness. Healthy sweating also effectively prevents high blood pressure. In the sauna, the blood vessels dilate and blood pressure drops. So anyone who regularly enjoys a sauna bath also trains their heart. Those who already suffer from high blood pressure can even alleviate it by taking regular saunas.
Slowly increasing the sauna temperature
After two or three months, blood pressure will normalize. To achieve this, it does not even have to be the high temperatures. Even 60 degrees makes us sweat a lot – and is extremely pleasant even for beginners. If you want, you can increase the temperature slowly. However, this does not have a major impact on health. It is neither the case that high temperatures benefit more, nor that low temperatures have a lesser effect.
Rarely ill through regular sauna sessions
The alternation of heat and cold has another effect: the immune system is stimulated. After all, the body has to adapt quickly to new conditions – and that is pure training. Studies have shown that sauna users get sick much less often. They survive a wave of flu in good health and are also protected against dangerous infections. To achieve this effect, the shower doesn’t even have to be that cold. Those who believe that the colder, the healthier are mistaken. Even lukewarm water sufficiently trains the immune system after a sauna session. By the way, it doesn’t matter how warm the sauna is at this point either. A low temperature can help the body protect itself against viruses and germs. But high heat doesn’t hurt either – everyone can follow their preference here.
Toxins are flushed out
Those who sweat regularly also ensure that the body has the opportunity to flush toxins to the outside. In everyday life, we are exposed to many harmful substances without realizing it. We absorb many of them quite unconsciously through our skin. In the long run, they can cause tremendous damage in the body. In the sauna, we sweat out this toxin to a large extent. Our body thanks us for this pleasant service, because it no longer has to break down the substances – and we are healthier in the long run.
Depression and burnout
A sauna bath has however still another underestimated effect, if it concerns our health. In the heat we relax once so correctly and pay attention to our body. In short, we do ourselves something really good. Those who are so mindful of themselves also have a lower risk of developing depression or burnout. These mental illnesses often bring with them many physical ailments.
When should you rather avoid the sauna?
Saunas and steam baths are not recommended for people with certain health problems. Consult your doctor before using the sauna if you suffer from any of the following conditions:
- Asthma or other respiratory problems
- Heart disease
- Pregnancy
- Epilepsy
- Very high or extremely low blood pressure
- people under the influence of alcohol
- Persons taking stimulants, sedatives or other mind-altering drugs
According to current research, saunas have both benefits and drawbacks. For healthy people, saunas are generally safe. However, you should note that prolonged exposure to high temperatures in the sauna can stress the body. Beginners should start with a 5-8 minute sauna session, depending on the type of sauna, and gradually increase to a maximum of 15 minutes.
