Give me an opportunity to create fever and I will cure any illness.
Paramenides, Greek physician
From Saunas of
Nordic Europe to Steam Baths of the Mediterranean, therapeutic sweating has
existed since the Middle Ages and continues to benefit to peoples wellness
today from all over the world. Steam Sauna facilities offer a world of tranquility
and relaxation but also offer much in terms of restoration to the body.
Steam Sauna Benefits
A steam generator is used to create water vapor at high
levels of humidity. The heat and humidity may bring health benefits ranging
from aiding stress relief, to body cleansing, to soothing
aching muscles or arthritis. Different research and user studies show
that the benefits of steam showers are numerous and may aid your bodily health
by:
1.
Detoxication
of the Body. Toxins, your
body accumulates over the years, largely contribute to the general ageing
process and speed up deterioration of the body as you get older. Just like
exercise, Sauna sessions provide for substantial and consistent amounts of
sweating that remove toxins from the human body through the pores in your skin.
This includes vital organs such as the liver, kidney, lungs, and bowels.
2.
Boosts
Immune System. Steam
rooms boost the immune system by producing an artificial fever. In response,
the body makes more white blood cells. White blood cells, also called
leukocytes, help the immune system in the following ways: (1) Phagocytes—a type
of white blood cell—help by ingesting bacteria, microorganisms, and old red
blood cells. (2) Lymphocytes—another type of white blood cell—help by
protecting the body against disease. They permit the body to recall past
invaders and aid in destroying them.
3.
Cleanses
the Skin. A profuse
sauna-induced sweat followed by a shower cleanses your skin far more thoroughly
than merely just taking a shower. This process makes your skin soft and healthy
and you will feel it immediately after a Sauna session. Sauna treatment is
known to be an excellent method of fighting acne and other skin ailments.
4.
Increases
Blood Circulation. A
sauna session is known to increase heart rate by as much as 30% in one session.
The sauna enhances circulation and oxygenates the cells, tissues and organs. It
increases the body's ability to produce energy, which promotes healing.
5.
Sauna
Weight Loss. Saunas are
famous for allowing an individual to sweat excess body fat out of their body.
One 30 minute session can result in as much as 400 calories of sauna weight
loss being burnt. If weight loss is a motivator in enjoying a Sauna session
take into account you will be extremely hungry afterwards as it rapidly speeds
up your metabolism!
6.
Relaxes
The Body. Be it after a
game of sport or busy day in work, the heat and humidity of a Sauna go a long
way to heal any aches and pains in the body. A sauna after heavy physical
activities will leave tense muscles and sore limbs totally relaxed and
rejuvenated.
7.
Relaxes
The Mind. The ultimate
benefit of a sauna session is the relaxation it brings to the person. The
tranquil setting of a wooded cabin and dense heat will go a long way to reduce
stress to help to feel relaxed and rejuvenated as a person.
8.
Aids in Healing
Injuries. Steam compels blood vessels to expand. This aids in optimal blood
circulation, and it allows more nutrients and oxygen to reach damaged muscles
and joints. As a result, pain decreases while the body's rate of healing
increases.
9.
Treats
Medical Conditions. To
common benefits of steam sauna may be added the relief of certain medical
conditions and symptoms, like
a.
Discomfort of asthma,
b.
Allergies,
c.
Arthritis,
d.
Enhancing the respiratory system,
e.
Relieving throat irritation.
f.
Relieving inflammation and congestion of upper
respiratory mucous membranes,
g.
Loosening secretions and stimulating the
discharge of mucous from the throat and lungs (natural expectorant), keeping
mucous membranes from excessive drying,
h.
Helping in the treatment of cancer. During a session
in steam sauna, the functioning of the immune system is stimulated, while the
growth of bacteria and virus is forced to slow down. The production of white
blood cells, the primary agents of the immune system, is increased, as is the
rate of their release into the blood stream. The generation of antibodies
speeds up, as does the production of interferon, an anti viral protein that
also has powerful cancer-fighting properties.
Steam Sauna Health
Risks
1.
Infection. Bacteria
and fungi prefer damp, warm environments with little light. This makes steam
rooms perfect breeding grounds for infections to spread. One of the most common
is athlete's foot, or tinea pedis, which can occur when your bare feet are
exposed the floor of a steam room. Athlete's foot causes stinging, itching, and
burning between toes and other areas on your foot. Another common fungal
infection is jock itch, or tinea cruris, that affects the upper thigh, genital
and buttocks. If someone who has jock itch was sitting on a bench in a steam
room, it increases the likelihood the next person who sits there may become
infected as well. Always wear shoes in a steam room, and if you sit on a bench,
place a clean towel beneath you.
2.
Dehydration. Steam
room temperatures range from 110 to 116 degrees F, with 100 percent humidity. A
great deal of perspiration ensues, and dehydration can result if you are not
careful. The Indiana University School of Medicine states that if your body
loses fluids and salt from excessive sweating, you are at great risk for heat
exhaustion or heat stroke. The best way to avoid this is to drink plenty of
water before and after the steam room, and not to stay in the steam room for
more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
3.
Special Conditions. Those
with respiratory disease, heart palpitations, high or low blood pressure,
diabetes and the elderly should consult a physician before entering a steam
room. Pregnant women should avoid them altogether. Steam rooms have a negative
effect on blood pressure, which inhibits oxygen flow to the fetus and may cause
birth defects. Male infertility may also result from spending time in steam
rooms. According to the Harvard Medical School, high temperatures can make sperm
inactive and disrupt development.
4.
Movements’ Safety. The specifics of the steam sauna operations
essentially require a lot of steam. That means the visibility inside is very
limited, especially for those who already has particular vision impairment. It
may be also slippery, so you should be extremely careful, while moving from the
door to the shelf and back.
5.
Excessive Exposure. Individuals should be cautioned about falling
asleep in a steam room or sauna, which can cause serious health concerns if
heat exposure is too prolonged.
We would strongly recommend consulting your primary
physician on the possible benefits and risks before adding steam room to your lifestyle
routine.
Recommendations
Here is the list of recommendation on how to use steam room
properly to maximize its health benefits and to minimize negative impact on
your health:
1.
Avoid
beverage alcohol and excessive caffeine intake and medications that may impair
sweating or increase the health risks from heat exposure.
2.
The
heat in steam rooms and saunas causes the body to perspire, often in great
amounts. Drink plenty of water before entering in order to combat dehydration.
3.
Shower
before entering steam sauna to remove any lotions or cleansers that are apt to
melt or drip off into the facility.
4.
Check
your body for any metal (jewelry and zippers, for example) in order to prevent
it from burning your body when it quickly heats up in the facility.
5.
Stay
in no more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
6.
Cool
down gradually after use. Avoid going rapidly from a hot to a cold environment,
e.g. sauna cold shower as this increases the physiologic stress on the body
considerably.
7.
Drink
2 to 4 glasses of cool water after each session.
8.
Don’t
take a sauna or steam bath if you are ill, and if you find yourself feeling unwell
while in a steam room or sauna, head for the door. Listen to your body, and
leave immediately if you feel dizzy, disoriented, or unwell in any other way.
9.
Ask
your health care provider for advice and recommendations, if you have any concerns
about potential health risks from steam room use.
Sources and Additional Information:
