Infrared Saunas: The Unexpected Health Benefits You Need To Know

The health benefits of infrared saunas have been documented. Infrared saunas mimic the warmth of the sun in close quarters. These saunas produce infrared rays that offer heating without the dangerous effects of ultraviolet rays. They increase energy production in the body, produce sweat, and are relaxing in nature.

Beyond the obvious feel-good experience of relaxing, infrared sauna therapy is actually good for health as research has shown. You can feel better, look better, sleep better, and be more productive, apart from potentially reducing the risk of many ailments. Thanks to our Sauna Float ACT you can reap all these advantages. 

What Is An Infrared Sauna?

Infrared saunas emit a wavelength of light that penetrates the body deeper than the surface. It is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the naked eye. This kind of light has many applications and is used in diverse fields like imaging, motion detection, guidance systems, and even space exploration.

In a traditional sauna, stones are heated and water thrown on them. As the water evaporates, the air heats up. Thanks to humidity control, the temperatures in a traditional sauna are high but bearable. However, the wet heat does cause you to sweat via indirect heating. The temperature in a wet sauna is 150-190 degrees F. It is the heat and humidity that causes you to sweat.

In an infrared sauna like the Sauna Float ACT, on the other hand, the heat is emitted as rays, so it is dry. It raises the body temperature internally and not externally. Since it penetrates deeper into the body, between 3 and 5 centimeters,  it has greater health benefits. The temperature of an infrared sauna is usually 120-140 degrees F.

Health Benefits Of Infrared Saunas

Among the numerous health benefits of infrared sauna therapy are:

• Improved heart health
• Pain relief
• Weight loss
• Detoxification
• Better sleep
• Relaxation and stress relief
• Faster Exercise recovery

How do infrared saunas help with so many health issues?

Heart Health

High blood pressure affects millions of people worldwide and is a factor in heart disease and even stroke. While taking medicine for hypertension can reduce blood pressure to normal levels as long as the medicine is taken regularly, regular use of infrared sauna also has advantages. It improves blood vessel dilation and this contributes to lowered blood pressure. Sweating, too, reduces blood pressure.

This, in turn, reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke. In fact, a scientific study shows that infrared sauna bathing regularly improves cardiovascular fitness and reduces the risk of mortality.

Regular Sauna Float ACT usage also increases the heart rate, similar to what you would get by moderate to high-intensity exercise like cycling or swimming. An increased heart rate for short-term duration yields even more benefits for heart health. If infrared sauna bathing is combined with actual exercise, the physical benefits are substantially more.

 Pain Relief

When you experience any pain, you know something is wrong somewhere. Among the causes of various aches and pains are:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Spondylitis
• Nerve pain
• Back pain
• Headaches
• Body ache
• Accidents or trauma
• Age-related stiffness
• Muscle spasms

 Yes, you can use ice or cold therapies for certain kinds of pain, and this treatment may be called for in traumatic cases. For chronic conditions, heat helps a lot.  Painkillers that are usually prescribed can be quite effective in the short term, but they come with a host of side effects if you have to take them for longer periods.

Infrared sauna therapy like Sauna Float ACT  is a more natural and holistic therapy that is well tolerated and gives results. Since this therapy penetrates deeper into the body it offers greater and faster relief.

A pilot study shows that there are many short-term benefits in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis when using infrared therapy. These may translate into long-term benefits as well. Arthritis, rheumatism, and fibromyalgia are usually chronic conditions and can adversely affect the quality of life. 

You can get pain relief using infrared sauna therapy, reduce your dependence on medications, and enjoy better mobility and health.

Many pains are associated with spasms and muscles. With gentle infrared heat, these areas get increased blood flow and oxygen, and this helps with pain and reduces stiffness.

Weight Loss

Can the dry heat generated by an infrared sauna help you lose weight? This is a bit of a tricky question. When you sweat more, as you do during a sauna session, you will definitely lose water weight. However, this water weight loss is temporary and you are likely to regain it when you hydrate properly.

Thanks to infrared sauna usage, you experience an increase in heart rate that is similar to when you exercise moderately. This definitely has an impact on weight loss. When combined with the right diet and exercise, it will boost your weight loss.

If you are unable to exercise because of physical or health problems, mobility issues, or other problems, the infrared sauna will help burn calories and enhance physical fitness. A small study comprising 30 overweight men showed that the infrared sauna helped in some weight loss.  More definitive studies are needed to establish a link between the use of infrared sauna and weight loss.

Detoxification Effects Of Infrared Sauna

Does the infrared sauna help with detoxification? Detoxification works in various ways and using an infrared sauna is one of them. Think of this: We are constantly bombarded with toxins from various sources: the air we breathe is polluted, more often than not. Our food is laced with toxins, including heavy metals, plastics, chemical, and many extraneous substances.

Additionally, the food we eat may be highly processed, full of additives and preservatives, colors, improvers, and more. A lot of this is done to increase the shelf life of foods. Unless you are extremely mindful of what you put in your body in terms of foods, you are going to be eating some foods that have low nutritive value.

And you can’t really do anything about environmental toxins and the air you breathe, can you? Nor can you do anything about chemicals, pesticides, and other toxins in air, water, and food.

Using an infrared sauna regularly will help you get rid of toxins. You can sweat much of the toxins out. While the actual amount of toxins that are released in sweat may be debatable, there is a definite reduction in toxins as this study shows.

Improved Sleep Quality

Sleep is essential for rest, and cellular repair, and benefits you in many ways. However, the stress of modern life, the poor work-life balance as also diet and health issues can compromise your sleep quality.

If you suffer from constant insomnia, primary or secondary, or you simply do not get enough good quality sleep, you can suffer many health issues. Among other health benefits, the use of infrared sauna helps you sleep better. 

How does the infrared sauna help with sleep?

Your body needs to be at a particular temperature for better sleep: it should be fairly cool. The infrared sauna works similarly to a hot or warm bath, after which you are more likely to get restful sleep. The warmth experienced in an infrared sauna relaxes the body and produces endorphins that increase relaxation.

After the sauna, as your body sweats, the sweat evaporates and cools you down naturally. If you shower shortly after your body has reached normal temperature, you experience this warming (from the shower) and cooling sensation that promotes restful sleep. Sauna Float ACT can help improve your sleep quality. 

Enhanced Relaxation And Reduced Stress

Everybody experiences stress due to various factors. These may be financial, physical, relationship, emotional, workplace-related, or even a combination. When stress accumulates, it can lead to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. All these also have a direct effect on physical health.

While you can take care of your mental health by following various therapies, going to a psychotherapist, or even meditating, you can also try various physical relaxation therapies like infrared sauna.

Anxiety and stress can lead to full-blown depression, and that needs to be treated by a mental health professional. If you only suffer from minor stressors, some bouts of anxiety, and occasional feelings of sadness or depression, you can help yourself before it becomes a crisis.

You take the first step by going to a spa and booking a session for an infrared sauna. This gives you much-needed me-time, where you are not distracted by anything else. In itself, this is relaxing. When you spend some time in the sauna, your body also detoxifies and your stress  reduces. These promote feelings of mental well-being.

If you do this regularly, you will find yourself more relaxed, with reduced stress levels and your physical and mental health will also improve.

Faster Exercise Recovery

Physical exercise is good for health. It keeps you fit, results in better oxygenation, burns calories and is an important part of physical and mental well-being. However, exercise does take its toll on muscles and joints.

Certain exercises and fitness regimes are more grueling than others. If you are an athlete or sportsperson take part in competitive sports, or you are just a physical fitness enthusiast, you can benefit from infrared therapy.

Far infrared therapy results in

• Faster muscle recovery
• Improved exercise tolerance
• Enhanced performance

The heat from the sauna increases blood flow and reduces the risk of repetitive strain injuries. It also reduces pain as it acts as an analgesic. So you get short-term and long-term infrared sauna health benefits from this therapy.

These advantages may allow you to train harder and push your body a bit more – very important for people in competitive sports. Infrared therapy has no side effects and its positive effects are well-documented.

How To Use An Infrared Sauna Safely

When using an infrared sauna, safety should be a prime concern.

Guidelines For First-Time Users

While you can go anytime for a sauna session, if you go in the mornings, it will increase the production of endorphins and set you up for the day. If you go towards evening or night, you are assured of better sleep.

Here are some guidelines for first-time users of infrared saunas:

• Eat at least one or two hours before going for a sauna session.
• Wear as few clothes as possible, if you don’t want to remove everything.
• It is not necessary that you wait for the sauna to heat up to the set temperature: if you go in at 85-95, your body will adjust to the heat gradually.
• Body temperature should not rise over 102 degrees F.
• If you feel too hot or stuffy, you can open the door slightly to allow some air in briefly.
• Exercising lightly before the sauna session will increase health benefits and reduce stiffness, knots, and spasms.

When you follow these guidelines, you will reap increased advantages from infrared sauna therapy.

Importance Of Hydration

You are going to sweat a great deal during your sauna session, thanks to the dry heat. You may well feel the sweat pouring out of all your pores, including your face. As such, you need to have sufficient water before the session, otherwise, you can get rapidly dehydrated. You can take some water to drink with you in the sauna.

Just think, you can lose as much as 5 pounds in perspiration alone. You can well feel that you are bathed in your own sweat. If you have not had enough liquid, then you can rapidly feel lightheaded, dizzy, and even on the verge of collapse. You can drink plain water to replenish the lost fluids or take an electrolyte drink or oral rehydration salts.

Recommended Duration And Frequency Of Infrared Sauna Usage

When you start using an infrared sauna for the first time, it is recommended that you start with limited time. This will enable your body to get used to the temperature and you will also understand how much you are actually sweating.

Initially, you may want to use it for 10-15 minutes (longer if you go in before the set temperature has reached). Work your way up slowly as you get used to the sauna. You can slowly increase the time you sit in an infrared sauna to 30-40 minutes.

What about the frequency of usage? The minimum that you should go in twice a week. Thrice a week is even better. If you tolerate it well and experience health benefits, then you can even go daily. People who have saunas at home can use it even twice a day. 

Precautions And Possible Infrared Sauna Risks

Does using an infrared sauna come only with advantages? Are there any precautions when using a sauna? Are there any risks associated with sauna usage?

While using an infrared sauna for its potential health benefits seems like a good idea, it is always better to have all the facts at your disposal before jumping in.

When you use an infrared sauna, it is always a temptation to set the heat higher. This can be a bad idea as you can even suffer from heat stroke if you are not used to high temperatures. You could inadvertently spend more time in the sauna than necessary, but more is not always good. This can happen if you doze off, for instance. You can even suffer burns, apart from heat stroke.

Dehydration is a real threat during an infrared sauna session. That is why it is important to be well-hydrated before going, and also carry a bottle of water with you. Do not have alcohol, caffeine drinks, or sweet beverages before the sauna as these will cause faster loss of water, leading to dehydration.

Check with a medical practitioner if you suffer from high or low blood pressure, heart conditions, diabetes, or have a pacemaker, brain tumor, skin conditions, or any other health issue, whether infrared sauna usage is contraindicated or you can safely use it. In case you have silicone implants in the breasts, or are pregnant, check with your doctor before using an infrared sauna.

Conclusion

You can certainly reap many health benefits while using an infrared sauna regularly. It can improve blood pressure, heart health, muscle recovery, reduce stress, enhance sleep, and more. It is a relaxing modality and gives you much-needed time off. Using an infrared sauna like the Sauna Float ACT is safe and helps you enjoy better health. 

While health benefits have been researched, there has not been sufficient research-based evidence to validate all the findings. Almost all research studies say that more studies are needed, with a higher number of participants.

At the same time, frequent or long usage of infrared sauna may not be advisable. If you have any medical condition, you must check with your doctor as to whether you can safely use this facility.

Infrared Sauna FAQs

What are the main health benefits of using an infrared sauna?

Apart from the obvious relaxation benefits, you may also experience improved heart health, better and quicker exercise recovery, pain relief, weight loss, detoxification, and enhanced skin tone.

How is an infrared sauna different  from a traditional sauna?

A traditional sauna generates wet heat that affects you more superficially. An infrared sauna emits dry heat that penetrates deeper into the skin so its effects are more pronounced.

Is it safe to use an infrared sauna?

As long as you follow safety protocols, it is safe to use an infrared sauna.

Can using an infrared sauna aid in weight loss?

Using an infrared sauna can boost your weight loss efforts, provided you are also following exercise and diet guidelines. On its own, while you will lose considerable water weight, you will regain that weight once you drink water.

How often should I use an infrared sauna for optimal benefits?

You can use an infrared sauna starting with twice a week and then increase the frequency to whatever you are comfortable with. It is safe to use a sauna for brief periods even twice a day.

What should I wear in an infrared sauna?

Wear minimal or no clothing when taking infrared sauna therapy.

How long should a session in an infrared sauna last?

You can stay comfortably between 20 and 35 minutes in the sauna.

Can I use an infrared sauna if I have a medical condition?

If you have a medical condition, it is best to check with your doctor about the safety of using an infrared sauna for you.

Can infrared saunas help with skin health?

Yes, they promote sweating and also increase collagen and elastin production. These help by keeping the skin firm and toned.

Are there any side effects of using an infrared sauna?

If you have any significant health problems, you may face some side effects. In case you have high or low blood pressure problems infrared sauna usage may reduce your blood pressure, more so if you get dehydrated. Feeling dizzy or light-headed, fainting, and burns are all associated with using an infrared sauna at a higher temperature or for longer periods, if you are not hydrated enough or if you fall asleep during the session.

How long does it take to see the benefits of an infrared sauna?

Some benefits like relaxation, stress relief, improved mood, and relief from aches and pains may be immediate. Others will improve as you are consistent and regular in your usage.