One of the most argued questions has to be which is better – Sauna or steam bath? Steam baths and saunas are akin but also different in many ways. Both have a lot of health benefits. There are many studies that prove sauna and steam baths can provide relief and take you away from your worries. Deep sweating can improve your skin health by removing dead cells. But which one will suit you the best? Continue reading to find out more.
Steam Baths –
Steam baths emit moist heat. These are tiled rooms which use water poured over hot rocks forming steam. These rooms have high temperature fairly high humidity levels. When you are inside the steam room, your heart rate starts to increase. This will boost circulation by dilating blood vessels. It increases metabolic rate and helps with post workout muscle recovery. You will definitely break a sweat. This helps your body to get rid of toxins. The sweat clears out the skin and leaves it blush and glowing and the steam can cure mild infections such as cold. It helps the body to detoxify and relax while sitting in a room full of steam makes you feel completely transported to a calmer place. Steam baths help reduces your stress levels, hence encouraging good mental health as well as physical health.
It is extremely important to stay hydrated. You must drink enough water to make up for the loss of bodily fluids for the amount of time you are inside the room. It can cause dehydration. As the heart rate increase, it can be risky for people with heart problems to spend long hours in the bath. Consult a doctor before going in for these sessions. Listen to your body. Make sure you go in these rooms clean. Increased levels of humidity can lead to harmful bacteria or fungi growth and cause infections.
Sauna –
Saunas are made of plain wooden rooms with modern electric heating. The dry heat emitted makes you sweat as well. However, you perspire much more than in sauna than in steam rooms. The blood flow improves paving way to muscle longevity. Inflammation in muscles and joints reduces with better circulation of blood and oxygen reaching muscles faster. This makes the muscles recover from any strain much quicker after an intense workout. You can exercise in the gym the next day with more or equal intensity. Sweating comes with various benefits to our body. It aids in getting rid of accumulated toxins in our body. The major difference between steam baths and sauna is the humidity level and temperature. Since sauna uses dry heat, the humidity is much lower than steam rooms, making it more tolerable to borne for a long time. You can sit in for a longer period of time. The quality of the skin improves since the heat causes clogged pores to open and all the dirt gets removed and harmful bacteria on skin gets killed. According to a Study by Harvard Medical School, Sauna seems to lead to lesser heart problems and longer life.
A longer period of exposure to sauna can cause skin irritation, chapping and drying. It may occur as a result of dehydration as well because of the excessive loss of body fluids. Steam rooms have a better effect on skin than sauna. Furthermore, people with serious heart conditions must consult a doctor before using sauna as a heat therapy.
Precautionary measures before going into the sauna
1. Before you enter into steam room or sauna, take a quick shower to remove any bacteria build up. It’s essential for you as well as others.
2. Be aware of the amount of time you spend in the bath. Don’t exceed 15- 20 minutes. It is advised to take a cooling off period in between your session.
3. After the session is over, take a cold shower to get rid of sweat. This will ensure the dirt from clogged pores gets cleaned out. Additionally, it will improve lymphatic circulation.
4. Hydrate. Drink about 2-3 glasses before starting the session and don’t hesitate to carry a water bottle inside in case you feel the need.
5. Refrain from consuming alcohol before going into these baths.
To answer which one is better – I would personally recommend a sauna. However, it is a matter of personal choice. Where steam baths has better effect on the skin, sauna aids in muscle strain reduction and lowering blood pressure. However, you can’t go wrong with either. They both improve functioning of heart, improve metabolic rate and increase immunity.
Do you think saunas are better than steam baths?
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