Sauna for the Heart

This is another practice that I have started incorporating into my weekly routine since couple of months.

The Benefits of Sauna for Heart Health and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Sauna is a traditional practice that has been used for centuries to relax and improve health. In recent years, there has been increasing attention to the potential benefits of sauna for heart health and cardiovascular disease prevention.

How Does Sauna Work?

Sauna is a hot, humid room in which people sit or lie down to sweat. The typical temperature of a sauna is 70 to 90 degrees Celsius, and the relative humidity is 10 to 30%.

When a person enters a sauna, their body begins to sweat to regulate its temperature. Sweat helps to remove toxins from the body and can have beneficial health effects.

What Are the Benefits of Sauna for Heart Health?

Improved Cardiovascular Function

Sauna bathing can lead to several improvements in cardiovascular function, including:

• Increased blood flow: The heat from the sauna causes blood vessels to dilate, which increases blood flow throughout the body. This can help to improve overall circulation and deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the heart and other organs.
• Enhanced heart function: The increased blood flow can also help to strengthen the heart muscle and improve its efficiency. This can lead to a lower resting heart rate and a better ability to handle physical activity.
• Reduced blood pressure: Sauna bathing has been shown to temporarily lower blood pressure in some people. This effect may be due to the release of nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes blood vessels.

Reduced Risk of Death from Heart Disease

Several studies have shown that regular sauna bathing is associated with a lower risk of death from heart disease. One study, which followed over 2,300 Finnish men for 20 years, found that those who used saunas four to seven times per week had a 22% lower risk of death from heart disease than those who used saunas less than once per week.

The reasons for the link between sauna bathing and reduced heart disease risk are not fully understood, but some possible mechanisms include:

• Reduced inflammation: Chronic inflammation is a major risk factor for heart disease. Sauna bathing has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, which may help to protect against heart disease.
• Improved cholesterol levels: Sauna bathing has been shown to increase the amount of good HDL cholesterol in the blood and reduce the amount of bad LDL cholesterol. This can help to improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
• Enhanced blood vessel function: Sauna bathing can improve the function of blood vessels, making them less likely to develop plaque buildup and atherosclerosis. This can help to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Why Your Heart Beats Faster in the Sauna

When you enter a sauna, your body's natural response is to try to cool itself down. This is why you start to sweat. To pump more blood to your skin to assist in heat dissipation, your heart starts to beat faster. This is usually a temporary effect that goes away once you leave the sauna.

Now, did you know all that...?! I read you in the comments!

Until the next one, be well!

Katia Rivas Lichaa