Nowadays, it’s probably well common in all over the world what is called « sauna » … and it’s a way of relaxing oneself. However, this way of entertainment has created a contradiction in people’s reactions.
One believes that is the refuge to refresh oneself and it is the gift of humanity progress … others think that sauna is not suitable for us.
What are the types of sauna?
First, we all know that SAUNA is a very hot room that is heated between 150F to 195F … Yet, in general, SAUNA is classified into two types. Typically, people spend around 10 minutes to 15 minutes in a SAUNA which depends on their toleration of heat.
With more scrutiny, those two types are also classified into other types different by the method to produce heat, there are the most common types:
Wood burning: Where the humidity is low but the temperatures are the high cause of the wood-burning stoves which are used to heat SAUNA rocks
Electrically heated sauna: Also in those rooms the humidity is low but the temperatures are high, well in here the electric heater is fixed to the floor or wall heating all the room
Steam rooms: Temperatures are adjusted to 100 percent … these are called « Turkish bathhouses »
Infrared sauna: Those rooms are around 140F but light waves from specialized lamps are used to heal your body without warming the room. Her benefit is also as much as the other rooms but at much lower temperatures.
What the health benefits of the sauna?
SAUNA’s benefits are many in addition to being a great way to end a workout but we can mention the positive effect on heart health, based on some researches that have shown that the high-temperature exposure helps blood vessels expand, which helps improve the circulation and lowers blood pressure.
Besides to that, Sauna also helps people who have chronic muscle and joint pain from rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, Dr. Mukai confirmed that studies have shown that saunas can help with fatigue and pain associated with those conditions, he also says that some of the athletes use SAUNAS to help with performance and endurance, so that, their muscle strength and power increase more and more after every sauna use.
« If you’re looking to built strength and power, saunas can help with that, » says DR Mukai (physical medicine and rehab specialist at Texas Orthopedics).
Furthermore, Sauna can help in losing weight but only when it’s accompanied by a diet and a program working on an exercise, with this way SAUNA will be a beneficial component to a holistic plan.
However, it can have many disadvantages when it’s used alone because the weight that one lose is water weight, which is not ideal. Actually, being chronically dehydrated is not a good state for the body, so it’s obligated to replace this lost water weight as soon as possible. But being in the high heat does cause the heart statement to go up slightly which makes it’s better sitting in a SAUNA than at rest in normal temperatures to make the body able to burn more calories.
What are the disadvantages of the sauna?
However, this effect is very small and will likely not have a great overall impact on total calories burned.
At least, all saunas expose the body to warm temperature, but when this body gets overheated, this will make sweating which causes fluids lost, causing also the dehydration … and there’s a risk of getting dehydrated from being in any type of sauna. “The biggest risk (of sauna use) is dehydration,” says Dr. Mukai. “Drink plenty of fluids. If you’re going to be sweating a lot, look into electrolyte drinks.”
Conclusion
To conclude, Using the sauna after a workout can be helpful if it’s done carefully and responsibly. According to Dr. Mukai, you should ease yourself into sauna use. “I usually tell people to start with a shorter time and see how they feel right after, and then for the rest of the day.” Try starting with only five minutes. Build up if you feel comfortable. And make sure there is respect for those three tips :
- Spending time in the sauna might have a positive effect on heart health.
- Start by sitting in a sauna for only five minutes at a time until your body better tolerates the heat.
- You can get dehydrated easily in a sauna, so drink plenty of fluids before and after using it.
- To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of fluids and know these signs of mild to moderate dehydration:
- Dryness in the mouth.
- Extreme thirst.
- Headache.
- Feeling dizzy.
- Feeling lightheaded.
- Not urinating as frequently or having very concentrated urine.