It can help lower your blood pressure (Image: Getty)
Just one simple activity you cna do three times a week could make a “significant improvement” to your health by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart attack to name a few.
Experts are now encouraging people not to overlook this step and rather than viewing it as a luxury, see it as a way to improve your health.
states that sauna bathing offers many benefits beyond relaxation.
The experts explain that this form of heat therapy can reach temperatures between 158F and 212F – or 70C to 100C and is considered dry heat with “the relative humidity in a typical sauna” tending to reach “between 10% and 20%”, they say.
Many individuals are unaware that simply sitting in a sauna can have a significant impact on your heart. According to UCLA Health: “The heat can raise your skin temperature and cause heavy sweating – just a short time in the sauna can produce a pint of sweat.
“As your body attempts to keep cool, your heart rate increases and may reach 100-150 beats per minute. Sauna bathing (and an increased heart rate) causes your blood vessels to open, increases circulation and reduces stress levels – like the effects of low or moderate exercise.”
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This means that it is great for lowering your blood pressure with evidence across the last few decades showing that being in a sauna “has an immediate positive effect on blood pressure”.
But for even better results, it’s suggested to use the sauna for 15 minutes after a workout and by doing this three times a week, “results in a more significant improvement in blood pressure than exercise alone”, the experts add.
But the benefits don’t stop there.
Studies suggest that regular sauna sessions could also help lower your risk of heart disease.
One long-term study tracked 2,300 sauna-goers over two decades and found those who used the sauna four to seven times a week had lower death rates from heart disease and stroke.
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However, if you’re planning on hitting the sauna, remember to stay hydrated. Experts advise drinking plenty of water before, during and after to replace lost fluids and prevent dehydration.
Limit your time inside to no more than 20 minutes and avoid alcohol before and during your session as it can increase your risk of dehydration.
In yet another benefit, the health study shows that high blood cholesterol, a waxy substance in your cells that increases your risk of heart disease, can be lowered by 10% a and decrease your risk of heart disease by 30%.
They explain: “Sweating can raise your good cholesterol levels (HDL) to improve your total cholesterol. Exercise will certainly help you work up a sweat, and sauna bathing on its own can also reduce total cholesterol levels. But combining the two — sitting in a sauna after your workout — has a more significant effect on total cholesterol.”