Saunas are common in gyms and fitness centers, and have definite physical and mental effects on their users. They can help with both body and mind relaxation. They may also have some minor effects on specific conditions, helping to ease symptoms.
Physical Effects
The extreme heat of a sauna, up to 185 degrees F, has an effect on your body similar to that of hard exercise. Your metabolism speeds up, and blood flow to your arms, legs and skin increases. The Harvard Health Watch claims that the increased pulse rate experienced by sauna users allows the heart to almost double the amount of blood it pumps per minute. Blood pressure may rise or fall. Because of the heat, your circulation isn’t the only body system affected. Sauna users can lose up to a pint of sweat per visit.
Sauna Benefits
The dramatic physical effects of a sauna on the body can help ease certain conditions. Studies have found that the cardiovascular effects can increase heart functioning in people with stable coronary artery disease, as well as ease pain and exhaustion for those with chronic pain or chronic fatigue, according to an interview in Health Day with Dr. Rachel Vreeman, an assistant professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Saunas may also have a beneficial effect on the skin, although you can’t actually sweat out internal toxins by using one. In addition, the sauna can have an effect on your mental state, helping ease mild depression and anxiety.
Potential Risks
Before you enter the sauna, avoid food and definitely avoid alcohol, which dehydrates the body and also constricts blood flow. Although the sauna may have beneficial cardiovascular effects for people with stable coronary artery disease, they’re usually unsafe for those with other cardiovascular conditions, such as unstable angina, poorly-controlled blood pressure or abnormal heart rhythms, or heart failure, as well as for people with long-term respiratory complaints. Ask your doctor about using a sauna if you are taking prescribed medications, since certain medications can alter your metabolism. If you feel ill while using the sauna, leave right away and don’t stay in longer than 15 to 20 minutes.
