The consistent use of a dry sauna has several effects on the body, and for people in good health, dry sauna benefits far outweigh disadvantages. While using a dry sauna, your skin temperature rises to around 104 degrees Fahrenheit after a few minutes. Some people will generate a pint to a quart of sweat while sitting in the sauna.
Use of a sauna causes a person’s pulse rate to increase by at least 30%, and this induces the heart to nearly double the amount of blood it pumps every minute. Most of this increased blood circulation is channeled to the skin to aid the body’s cooling system. The elevated circulation to the skin actually deflects some blood flow away from other organs. In some people blood pressure slightly increases during sauna use, and in others it decreases.
People with heart disease, high blood pressure, or who are pregnant should speak with a doctor before using a sauna, but for otherwise healthy people dry sauna benefits can be felt almost immediately. While Finns alternate sauna use with cold water, is somewhat of an acquired taste, though many people say that it brings about feelings of relaxation and well-being.
Plain old sweating is one of the best dry sauna benefits. Perspiring helps the body extrude unwanted and toxic materials, and it improves circulation to the skin. Since medieval days, healers have used sauna bathing as curative measures, and sometimes priests used them as a way to stave off evil spirits. Nowadays we think of saunas as a way to enhance mental clarity and encourage relaxation and meditation, but that may clearly be the 21st century version of warding off those evil spirits!
Dry sauna benefits come from the dry heat that can reach 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Some types of dry saunas have hot rocks on which sauna users can throw water in order to spend time in the steam, which can feel great to the respiratory passages. Whether your sauna uses steam or not, it is primarily the surface temperature of the body that increases. Blood vessels dilate, and blood circulation to the skin increases. The heart rate rapidly increases to maintain blood pressure within normal limits.
The main risk of using a dry sauna is staying in too long and becoming overheated. The people who are in danger of this are those who have been abusing drugs and alcohol, so it is importantly recommended that people that use the sauna refrain from drug and alcohol use before using a sauna. It is also paramount that sauna users drink plenty of water to stay hydrated during perspiring and to ensure they receive the most dry sauna benefits.
Dry sauna benefits include increased feelings of relaxation and well-being, including improved skin condition, and in some people recovery of cold symptoms and relief from muscle pain. Dry saunas are an excellent way to relax and bring about a feeling of peace. Those who avoid alcohol and drug use prior to using a sauna, who drink plenty of liquids to replace lost fluids, and that use the sauna within the recommended time limits will experience the plethora of dry sauna benefits and anxiously incorporate enjoyment of a dry sauna into their lifestyle.
Also make sure to check out these important links: infrared sauna and sauna kits.