The Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing
The sauna is known worldwide for the good feelings it gives its
users, but a relaxing, reinvigorating sauna session does far
more than just clear the cluttered mind and elevate the burdened
spirit. The benefits to the body are nothing short of remarkable.
Reacting naturally to the heat, surface blood vessels expand,
bringing a large flow of blood to the skin. The hot skin warms
the blood quickly, carrying the heat deeper into the body.
Through perspiration, acid and waste residue are removed from
the blood, increasing the kidneys' capabilities to filter out
impurities.
After a few trips into the sauna, pores that have been closed
for years may open up, expelling old cosmetics, blackheads, and
acne-producing bacteria. Dead skin cells may loosen up, allowing
for them to be scrubbed off later. Adolescents will appreciate
how the sauna helps to keep their skin cleaner and clearer, and
adults will be pleased to look and feel healthier and more
youthful.
Increased blood flow benefits the body's muscles through the
elimination of excess lactic acid accumulated from strenuous
exercise. Athletes often use the sauna to relax their sore,
tense and tired muscles and relieve stiffness in their joints.
Increased circulation (hyperaemia) also promotes the healing of
skin cuts, as the stronger blood flow brings a greater supply of
red and white blood cells to the areas where they are needed.
Not to be dismissed are the sauna's proven abilities to help
relieve tension headaches, backaches, colds, sinus congestion,
arthritis, rheumatism, sleeping difficulties, and minor
respiratory ailments.
For people who are caught up in the high pressure and extreme
stresses of 21st century society, the sauna offers problem-free
peace and a plethora of other perks and privileges, not the
least of which are the indisputable health benefits. Yet, many
of those lacking accurate information still refuse to accept the
fact that sauna enthusiasts are generally healthier and suffer
from fewer colds than people for whom the sauna is not part of
life's routine.