Overview
In a sauna, you are likely to encounter air temperatures of about 200 degrees F. First you will get dry heat emanating from a wood stove, according to author and physician Dr. Andrew Weil, then–if it is a traditional Finnish sauna–you will get a blast of wet heat as water hits the stove to create steam. In North America, electric saunas often omit the wet-heat step. Regardless of what type of sauna you choose, you can count on sweating heavily.
Benefits
Potential benefits of sauna include decreased stress, increased energy and sounder sleep. You could also feel less stiffness in your muscles, according to Weil. The sauna creates these effects by increasing the temperature of the surface of your body. Blood vessels dilate and circulation in the skin gets a boost. Your heart rate tends to increase to cope with the falling blood pressure that results.
Types
A conventional sauna can be electric or wood-fired. It usually features stones on which water can be thrown to produce steam, according to Creighton University Medical Center’s Complementary and Alternative Medicine web site. In an infrared lamp sauna, incandescent infrared heat lamps provide the heat. A far-infrared sauna uses metal or ceramic elements to generate energy in the far-infrared range. Most saunas are made of wood.
Misconceptions
You might have seen old cartoons in which a character enters a sauna with a pot belly and exits a bit later as little more than skin and bones. While it is true that you might lose weight in a sauna, it’s temporary. You will lose body fluids via sweating during a session, but will regain the weight as soon as you replenish the fluids by drinking water or other beverages, according Weil.
Warning
The main danger of a sauna is the possibility of overdoing it and thus getting overheated, according to Weil. This can lead to fainting. Heart disease, drug use and drinking alcohol can make you more susceptible. Spend only 10 to 20 minutes in the heat, Weil recommends, and be sure to stay hydrated by drinking water before, during and after the session.
History
You can thank the Finns for the modern-day popularity of the sauna, according to Creighton University. They were using saunas even before they entered Finland, when they were still living in an area northwest of Tibet between 5,000 B.C. and 3,000 B.C. The saunas, which started as holes in the ground covered with cloth, served the Finns during childbirth and in certain ceremonial functions, according to Creighton University. Wooden saunas appeared between the fifth and eighth centuries A.D. Today, there is one sauna in Finland for every two to three people.
