Different types of saunas for your home and their benefits
Sauna may be called of various names such as sweat house or steam bath. Whatever they are called there are numerous benefits one can get from using sauna. These are the reasons why a number of homeowners prefer to have their own sauna facility installed in their homes.
Different types of saunas for your homes
Most saunas that we see are installed in expensive spas, resorts and fitness and health clubs. People go to those places to relax or simply to unwind. You may often hear the word detoxify as one of the reasons why people go for sauna treatment sessions. Regardless of the type of sauna that one is using, there are a number of benefits associated in using the sauna.
 There are about three major types of sauna to choose from which you may install in your home:
1. Traditional type sauna – a heater is placed inside with the use of electricity, gas or wood. Sometimes the room is heated by keeping the rocks hot.
2. Far Infrared sauna – this type of sauna uses ceramics or metal to produce heat through the emission of far infrared energy.
3. Infrared lamp sauna – sauna which utilizes incandescent infrared heat lamps to produce heat.
Health benefits of using sauna
Most of the time, we hear people talking about the benefits of having sauna treatment sessions. We often hear the words, such as detoxifying, reduction of body fats, removal of body toxins and others. Although proofs of these benefits may not yet be that established, there are a number of benefits that sauna can provide the users.
Most studies done about sauna focuses mainly on the Far Infrared Saunas (FIR). It has been observed that the major benefit one can get from the FIT is mostly on the circulatory system wherein it normalizes the blood pressure and reduces the chance of having congestive heart failure (CHF). It was also shown in the study that FIR can likewise have an effect in treating chronic pain and obesity. Another interesting fact about FIR is that it can increase lactation in breastfeeding mothers.
Studies have shown that the heat the sauna emit is the key factor that provides benefit for the users. Here are some of the benefits of heat in our body:
1. Increased rate of recovery – heat increases the blood flow to the different organs of the body. Blood contains the factors needed to heal and repair damaged organs. Elevated blood flow also increases the distribution of body chemicals such as oxygen, glucose and certain fatty acids which aid in the repair mechanism. Simultaneously, removal of metabolic by-products also occurs.
2. Increased endurance – increase body heat also results in increase in plasma volume and blood flow to the heart. As a result, the heart needs to work less but still has the same work load. This in turn enhances the endurance in both athletes and a regular individual.
3. Skin rejuvenation – heat from the sauna slowly eliminates unwanted metabolic byproducts making the skin fresh and rejuvenated.
4. Alleviate systemic conditions – sauna can treat certain ailments such as arthritis, skin ailments, chemical sensitivity, cardiovascular conditions.
5. Kills microorganisms that cause disease – when the body temperature is raised, the microorganisms cannot withstand the temperature and eventually killing them. The elevated temperature is beyond the microorganisms’ optimum range thus preventing them to thrive.
Some disadvantages observed in using sauna
Studies have shown that the use of sauna is generally safe, even with pregnant women. However there are some precautionary measures to be observed in order to prevent from having harmful effect of sauna. Extensive use of sauna may lead to burns and excessive sweating which may lead to dehydration.
Other contraindications in the use of sauna include unstable chest pains, recent event of heart attack and severe aortic stenosis. In addition to these, alcohol consumption during sauna sessions may increase the risk of having hypotension, arrhythmia and sudden death. Â