Just a quick trip to history, saunas originated in Finland. Sauna means bathhouse and people in Finland have been using this for thousands of years. The oldest saunas in Finland were made from pits dug on a slope and it is primarily used as dwellings in winter. The sauna has a fireplace, where the stones are heated to a high temperature. Water is poured over the hot stone to generate steam and create a warmer sensation. This raises the apparent temperature to the point where people can remove their clothing.
The dry heat of the sauna (which can reach 185°F) has a profound effect on the body. The skin temperature rose to about 104 °F within a few minutes. Most people shed a pint of sweat in a short time in a sauna. An increase in pulse rate of 30% or more nearly doubles the amount of blood pumped by the heart every minute. Most of the extra blood flows to the skin; in fact, circulation keeps the blood away from the internal organs. Blood pressure is unpredictable, some people will go up, while others will go down.
1. Sauna improves health and wellness performance.
Not surprisingly, sauna bathers often mention that stress reduction is the number one benefit of using a sauna. Medical research usually shows that the stress of daily life can harm our health. In fact, most diseases (such as heart disease) are at least partly related to stress. A sauna can relieve stress in many ways. This is a warm and quiet space without external interference. As we often say, "Go into the Finnleo sauna and close the door to the rest of the world." The heat of the sauna relaxes the muscles of the body, improves blood circulation, and stimulates the release of endorphins. Endorphins are the body's natural "feel good" chemicals, and their release provides a truly wonderful "post-sauna glow".
2. It improves your cardiovascular health.
A study in Finland followed 2,315 men aged 42 to 60 over a 20-year period. Research results indicate that people who use saunas may have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
Among the study participants, a total of 878 people died of cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, or sudden cardiac death. Participants were ranked according to how often they used the sauna, including once a week, 2-3 times a week, and 4-7 times a week. After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, increasing sauna use is associated with a reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular disease. Participants who use the sauna 2 to 3 times a week are 22% less likely to experience sudden cardiac death than those who use the sauna only once a week. Compared to people who only use the sauna once a week, those who use the sauna four to seven times a week are 63% less likely to suffer sudden cardiac death and 50% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.
3. Saunas can help you relax your joints and soothes muscle pains.
At the high temperatures provided by the sauna, the body releases endorphins. Endorphins can have a pleasant and mild "sedation" and can minimize joint and muscle pain, such as intense physical exercise. The heat from the sauna also raises your body temperature. This causes the blood vessels to dilate, thus increasing blood circulation. This increased blood flow, in turn, speeds up the body's natural healing process by relieving pain and/or speeding up the healing of small bruises or cuts.
4. May lower risks of Alzheimer's
According to Medical News Today, In 2016, researchers from Finland published the results of a 20-year study that linked sauna use with a reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The study involved 2,315 healthy men between the ages of 42 and 60. Compared to people who don't use the sauna, people who use the sauna 2-3 times a week are 22% less likely to develop dementia and 20% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Compared to people who use the sauna once a week, those who use the sauna four to seven times a week are 66% less likely to have dementia and 65% less likely to develop Alzheimer's.
5. Sauna excretes body toxins through sweating.
Many (if not most) of us do not actively sweat every day. However, heavy sweating has multiple proven health benefits. The benefits of deep sweat can be realized through regular sauna baths. Due to the heat of the sauna, the core body temperature starts to rise. The blood vessels then dilate, increasing blood flow (see above). When the heat from the blood begins to move to the surface of the skin, the body's nervous system sends signals to the millions of sweat glands that cover the body. When the sweat glands are stimulated, they produce sweat. Sweat is produced primarily to cool the body and is made up of 99% water. However, sweating a lot in a sauna can help reduce levels of lead, copper, zinc, nickel, mercury, and chemicals; these are toxins that are generally absorbed through interactions with our daily environment. Many doctors would agree, an important reason for the popularity of saunas is that they are one of the best ways to detoxify our bodies.
6. Sauna can improve sleeping habits.
Studies have shown that using a sauna can lead to deeper, more relaxing sleep. In addition to the release of endorphins, the body temperature that rises late at night falls before bedtime. This slow and relaxing decline in endorphins is the key to promoting sleep. Many sauna bathers around the world remember their deep sleep experience after bathing in the calm heat of the sauna.
7. Sauna cleanses the skin.
In terms of cleansing the skin, thermal baths are one of the oldest beauty and/or health strategies. When the body starts to produce sweat through a lot of sweating, the skin is cleansed and dead skin cells are replaced, keeping the skin in good working condition. Sweating can remove bacteria in the epidermis and sweat ducts. Cleaning the pores has been shown to improve capillary circulation while making the skin look smoother.
8. Sauna will help you lose weight.
Some sauna sellers often make bizarre claims to promote saunas as the ultimate weight loss tool. Although some people may burn a lot of calories at first, especially those who are spoiled at the beginning, in the long run, the sauna is simply regarded as one of our many tools for burning extra calories. The sweating process itself requires a lot of energy. This energy comes from the conversion of fats and carbohydrates in the body's process of burning calories. According to the U.S. Army Medical Research (Ward Dean, MD), “A person with moderate conditions can easily sweat 500 grams at a time in a sauna, and consumes nearly 300 calories in the process.” Due to the acceleration of heart activity (cardiovascular Part), the body consumes these calories.
9. Saunas relieve stress.
The heat of the sauna can help us relax and regulate the cortisol level in the blood. Cortisol is a hormone released when we feel stressed. High levels of cortisol can cause many health problems, such as the immune system and sleep problems. The sauna will reduce the level of cortisol in our blood, but it will stimulate the production of serotonin. Serotonin is our "happiness hormone" and makes us feel good.