Infrared saunas use infrared lamps and electromagnetism to make heat. These saunas work at lower temperatures than other saunas and provide fantastic therapeutic benefits. Keep reading to learn how infrared saunas work and what benefits they may provide.
How Infrared Saunas Work
Lamps in infrared saunas put warmth directly on the body’s skin for heat-therapy benefits. Other kinds of saunas raise the entire sauna’s air temperature. Infrared saunas are usually kept between 110 and 135 degrees. Traditional saunas are typically 150 to 195 degrees. This makes infrared saunas more comfortable for the majority of people, feedback from an expert states.
Healthier Heart
The body responds after only a few minutes in an infrared sauna. Infrared sauna therapy may increase nitric oxide production, which dilates blood vessels. Blood vessels widen, blood flow increases, and sweat appears on the skin. The user’s heart rate begins to rise.
Infrared saunas can, like exercise, improve heart health and lower blood pressure. Regarding the body’s physical response, studies show that an infrared sauna session is like walking at a moderate pace. One study showed that using a sauna for thirty minutes daily decreased artery stiffness and improved blood pressure. Another study showed that people with heart failure who used an infrared sauna for fifteen minutes a day, five days a week, for two to four weeks had improved heart function.
Soothe Sore Muscles
Blood begins circulating more during an infrared sauna session, and this increased blood circulation can help speed up muscle recovery. Regular sauna sessions may even help athletes with their daily workouts and games. One study showed that, when physically active men spent thirty minutes in an infrared sauna after a workout, they showed improved neuromuscular recovery compared to those who did not use a sauna.
Relieve Pain
Studies are beginning to suggest that infrared saunas may be a way to help treat chronic pain. One two-year study showed improvement with two years of treatment. Infrared saunas can help with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. Patients noted that they had less pain, stiffness, anxiety, and fatigue. They also reported improved overall quality of life.
Stress Relief
When the body warms, depression, anxiety, and stress may decrease. An infrared sauna causes the body to slow down and relax. It also leads to more positive feelings. When people calm their nervous system by relaxing, the body reduces the hormone cortisol and makes more serotonin and dopamine, leading to happier, more energetic people.
Ability to Fight Off Illness
Saunas often provide users with more and sounder sleep. There is evidence that it may also help fight off illnesses like the common cold. Saunas reduce oxidative stress, which is linked to heart disease, cancers, and dementia. Spending routine time in an infrared sauna can lead to better physical health.
There are many benefits to using an infrared sauna. From helping with relaxation to preventing illness, an infrared sauna is worth a try for most individuals seeking an overall healthy lifestyle.
