Temperature in sauna therapy can range from 158F and 212F – or 70C to 100C and humidity is usually 10-20%. Most people are unaware of how sitting in a sauna affects the heart. Turns out, the increase in skin temperature can cause excessive sweating and in a short span, this can produce a pint of sweat.
Sauna helps lower blood pressure and this has an immediate effect on blood pressure. (Photo credit: Anastasiia Krivenok/Moment/Getty Images)
New Delhi: According to a study, going for a sauna only thrice a week could go a long way in improving heart health. This activity, which helps one sweat and relax a the same time, is known to improve blood pressure management significantly while also reducing the risk of suffering from a heart attack. Researchers have also found that encouraging people to not skip this step which is often seen as a luxury. Going for a sauna is seen as a way for the elite group of people to relax, but this heat therapy has a lot more benefits to offer.
Temperature in sauna therapy can range from 158F and 212F – or 70C to 100C and humidity is usually 10-20%. Most people are unaware of how sitting in a sauna affects the heart. Turns out, the increase in skin temperature can cause excessive sweating and in a short span, this can produce a pint of sweat. When the body attempts to keep cool, heart rate increases up to 100-150 minutes per beat. This causes blood vessels to open, thereby improving circulation and reducing stress levels. This mimics the effects of moderate workouts.
Sauna helps lower blood pressure and this has an immediate effect on blood pressure. 15 minutes of sauna after a workout done thrice a week can go a long way in blood pressure management rather than workouts alone. However, the benefits do not stop here. Regular saunas can also reduce the risk of heart disease in the long run. For this, a study was performed over one year and it evaluated 2300 people who are regular sauna-goers and it was found that going for a sauna thrice a week worked well to reduce death risk from stroke or heart disease.
Experts said that saunas can cause dehydration, which is why it is imperative to stay hydrated and drink lots of water before and after to replace loss of fluids and prevent dehydration. Furthermore, one must limit indoor time to not more than 20 minutes while also avoiding alcohol before and after the session as it causes dehydration. A health study also found that high cholesterol can be dealt with by going for a sauna as sweating helps raise good cholesterol levels in the body. And when combined with workouts, heart health can be further improved.
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