The Top Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing

Many people incorporate a hot shower into their daily or evening routine. The cascading water and steam can unwind your mind and relax your body. The next time you are at a wellness destination or gym, don't wait to bathe until you get home—take advantage of the onsite sauna benefits. Sauna bathing is one of WorldSprings’ amenities, and it’s a ritual worth exploring. Here’s what you should know about this wellness experience.

How Do Saunas Work?

Except for built-in benches, a sauna is an almost empty room typically made of wood. The interior is kept at a sizzling 170 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter. Although hot showers and saunas both produce steam, saunas are typically much drier.

The Finnish saunas at WorldSprings disperse dry heat. Hot stones, electric heaters, infrared lights, and wood-burning stoves are common sources of dry heat in saunas. Water poured over hot stones creates a steamy environment, but otherwise, the humidity is kept low, specifically between 10% and 20%. The lack of moisture in a Finnish sauna can make the heat feel even more intense.

These temperatures are considered extreme for the body, so people with certain medical conditions, such as heart issues or diabetes, should consult a doctor first. They might be advised to limit their time in the heat and follow a cooling-down process afterward. Individuals who have difficulty regulating body temperature might also be advised to limit or avoid sauna bathing.

Sitting in a sauna will make you sweat, which can cause dehydration. To remain hydrated, drink at least one glass of water beforehand and avoid consuming alcohol, which contributes to dehydration and could make you feel overheated. Don't eat a large meal before bathing in the sauna to avoid feeling nauseated.

What Health Benefits Do Saunas Offer?

Improves Cardiovascular Health

Sauna bathing will make your heart happier in various ways. The heat causes the body to sweat profusely. Your body tries to regulate its temperature for relief from the heat. In doing so, the heart beats faster. The quickened pace dilates blood vessels, which helps increase circulation and lower blood pressure.

Research shows that downtime in a sauna can lower the levels of LDL ("bad cholesterol") while giving HDL ("good cholesterol") levels a boost. High HDL levels do a better job of filtering out the bad cholesterol, lowering the risk of cardiovascular issues.

Cardiovascular respiratory fitness levels are another factor that influences whether an individual may develop heart disease. Sauna bathing can help raise these levels, which is why you shouldn’t forgo post-workout heat therapy.

Reduces Stress

Sauna bathing helps keep stress hormones in check to help you feel more at ease. For instance, having less of the stress hormone cortisol in the bloodstream aids immune system function. Feeling less stressed reduces inflammation and helps maintain white blood cell count to minimize the risk of infections.

Alleviates Common Respiratory Issues

Sauna bathing can provide relief to individuals who have chronic lung issues. Just like heat causes blood vessels to dilate, the intense temperatures can also open tight airways to make it easier for individuals with asthma and other respiratory issues to breathe.

Regular sauna-bathing sessions may even keep the common cold at bay. As mentioned, sauna bathing strengthens your immune system. Sweating helps flush toxins out of the body. Sitting in a sauna also helps break up mucus to prevent congestion that affects your lungs and nasal passages.

Reduces Joint Pain

Sauna bathing can help alleviate the joint pain associated with arthritis. Inflammation triggers this discomfort, as the immune system sees the tissue around the joints as a foreign invader. In response, the immune system prompts the painful swelling. A respite in a sauna can provide an immune boost and lower the risk of inflammation.

Sauna bathing is a great element to add to your workout routine (or after you've mowed the lawn or participated in other strenuous chores around the house) to ease muscle tension. The heat opens blood vessels to deliver oxygenated blood straight to stressed muscles. The blood helps the tears heal faster.

Experience Sauna Bathing at WorldSprings

When you search online for "a sauna near me" or "spa with sauna near me," you are only a few clicks away from experiencing all that WorldSprings offers. Indulge in Finnish sauna bathing in one of the birch-lined barrels or rectangular-style enclosures. The wellness destination also boasts mineral hot springs for a relaxing soak and cold plunge pools for an invigorating, icy pick-me-up.

Book your visit to WorldSprings to start your wellness journey.