Sauna or steam bath is not popular in our country for several reasons. Most regions in India are hot and humid, so this eliminates the need for a hot and steamy sauna. But did you know that taking a sauna after a workout can reduce your risk of heart disease? Yes, this is absolutely true! And this has been confirmed by scientific research. Keep reading till the end to find out.
Recently, according to a study published in the American Journal of Physiology, compared to exercise alone and exercise in combination with a sauna, it is much more beneficial for heart health. Many studies have shown that exercise can prevent diseases.
Current health and exercise guidelines recommend 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical exercise three to five sessions per week. This will help improve your heart health. At the same time, if the study is to be believed, a steam bath after a workout is very healthy for heart health.
Understand what a sauna is
The sauna bath originates from Finland. Where it has remained a part of people’s lives for more than 2000 years. Sauna is a Finnish word meaning “bath” or “bath”. A small wooden room is used for this. Where you experience dry heat and wet heat. Bathing with steam and hot water causes sweating. All you have to do is sit in the sauna naked and let the heat do its work.
There are many health benefits of steam baths
Helps with detoxification, accelerates metabolism, weight loss, improves circulation, reduces pain, anti-aging, revitalizes the skin, improves cardiovascular function, strengthens the immune system as well as stress control, healthy sleep and bodybuilding. It also helps in maintaining relaxation.
In a study published in the American Journal of Physiology, researchers included 50 men and women aged 30-60 and divided them into two groups. One who did controlled exercise and one who combined exercise with a 15-minute sauna bath.
The research showed that in the group that combined exercise and sauna, there was a significant increase in CRF (cardiorespiratory fitness). There was a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and cholesterol in the sauna group compared to the exercise-only group.
A study published in 2007 by PubMed Central also showed that regular sauna therapy (60 °C for 15 minutes) improved homeodynamic parameters, clinical symptoms, cardiac function and vascular endothelial function in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).
Endothelium-dependent dilation regulates circulating lipid profiles and blood pressure by reducing RTL levels, modulating the autonomic nervous system. All these conditions improve the health of the cardiovascular system.
With heart disease on the rise, there’s no harm in doing something extra for a healthy heart, so try a sauna after your next workout.
