Sauna

The term sauna comes from Finland. Finnish settlers came to America and built saunas instead of homes. This is where individuals would come to get warm, relaxed and clean. Saunas of past were a bit rugged, but they now have electrically-heated rooms. Saunas are a great place to clean out your pours, because the heat opens the pours on your entire body.

The reason people are able to endure temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Fahrenheit is because the humidity level is controlled. In saunas where the humidity is 100%, the sauna temperature is lowered to around 100 degrees. Infrared saunas are growing in popularity, using far infrared rays emitted by infrared heaters to create warmth. Within a 10-20 minute sauna session, the heart rate increases by 50-75%. The increased cardiac load is the equivalent to a brisk walk. There is a nominal effect on blood pressure because the heat also causes blood vessels in skin to expand to accommodate increased blood flow.

It is important to remember a few things before entering saunas: Don't drink alcohol, as the blood is moving slowly and the nerve endings are literally shutting down; Older people need to avoid or limit their time in the sauna; People with heart ailments or respiratory diseases need to avoid the sauna; Don't eat prior to the sauna; Avoid drug use and the sauna.