An essential cornerstone of physical well-being for thousands of years, it’s safe to say that, if you’ve ever attended a spa, you’ve probably dipped your toe or two into the local sauna or steam room.

The preferred spa space of choice for many an athlete, and a particularly popular social pastime for most Scandinavians, saunas have been once again growing in popularity in recent years, thanks in large part to fresh research around the benefits of sauna use on a regular basis.

But just what are the health benefits of saunas, and are there any risks that come with their use? Are there any tangible benefits of sauna use every day, or is this classic spa option simply the latest fad?

Keep reading to find out exactly what you need to know about the health benefits of saunas!

Are saunas good for you?

Given that saunas have been in use since before ancient Rome, you’d expect that asking whether or not saunas are good for you would be a moot question. And the truth is that there’s a reason that no one asks this question very often.

For one thing, saunas are simply an incredibly relaxed environment, which provides plenty of mental health benefits on its own. However, they also act as a direct, man-made analogue to natural spas and hot springs, which most certainly do have clear health benefits.

In other words, when it comes to the question “Are saunas good for you?”, the answer is most certainly yes!

What are the core health benefits of sauna use?

So, now that we’ve cleared up whether or not saunas are a healthy activity for you to indulge in, what exactly are these sauna benefits that everyone talks about? Well, we’ve outlined the main ones below that have been proven to have an impact so you can find out more:

1. Stress reduction

As we’ve already noted, one of the main sauna benefits out there is that they create an incredibly relaxed space for you to unwind in. This is because the temperature within saunas is high enough to activate your body’s thermoregulatory pathways, which increases blood flow and forces your sympathetic nervous system to work harder to maintain your core temperature.

And as a result of this increased blood flow to your brain and muscles, you’ll not only feel more alert and awake, but the dilation of your blood vessels helps to remove the tension within your body.

Add to this the fact that you’re probably attending a sauna with friends or family, and you suddenly have the perfect environment to mentally detox yourself after a hard week of work.

2. Skin detoxification

While the rumoured health benefits of saunas removing impurities from your internal system are largely unsubstantiated, what is true is that regular sauna use can be a great way to detox your skin and make it appear healthier.

This is because the higher temperature of saunas naturally forces you to sweat more in order to stay cool, which in turn opens up your pores and releases any built-up impurities that may have been blocking them, not to mention helping to clear away any missed dead skin cells.

3. Muscle relaxation

Another staple of the core sauna benefits, heat therapy has already been proven to soothe muscle aches and pains, making saunas the perfect place to release any post-workout muscle tension or take the edge off an injury for those extra fitness benefits.

Once again, this is thanks to the increase in blood flow your body experiences at higher temperatures, which sends a greater volume of blood to your skin as a way to cool you down and force even your tensest muscles to relax.

4. Improved cardiovascular health

Given that one of the main results of being exposed to higher sauna temperatures is an increase in blood flow, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that saunas have the potential to improve your body’s cardiovascular health due to the increased rate of blood flow throughout your system.

Naturally, your heart has to beat faster in order to maintain this increase in blood flow, improving heart muscle health in general and promoting better cardio health during future exercise.

5. Deeper sleep

Last, but not least, as saunas induce a more relaxed state and peaceful frame of mind, they can prove rather beneficial as a beginning step in your bedtime routine by reducing stress and calming your mind.

In fact, studies have shown that regular sauna use can not only help regulate your body’s natural sleep cycle, but it can promote the right frame of mind required for achieving a more restful and rejuvenating sleep.

Are there any risks associated with sauna use?

Although there are plenty of health benefits associated with regular sauna use, it is true that there are also several risks that come with spending more than the recommended sauna time in such a high-temperature space, such as:

• Dehydration – due to the excessive amount of sweating that saunas promote; it is possible to experience a certain degree of dehydration if you’re not careful, which is why most health experts suggest bringing water with you if you plan on spending more than 20 minutes in a sauna and not to use one after drinking alcohol.
• Burns – while unlikely, should you touch the heating element used within a sauna, or if your chosen sauna clothing has exposed metals and plastics on it, then there is the potential for you to accidentally burn yourself during sauna use.
• Health complications – should you suffer from certain health conditions, such as asthma, you may find that using a sauna aggravates these symptoms rather than improving them.

Create your own at-home sauna

So, there you have it, those are the main health benefits of sauna use, as well as some of the potential risks that could come with regular use. However, we’d argue that the potential benefits of such a spa system far outweigh the downsides, making saunas a fantastic option if you’re looking for an easy way to improve your weekly workout routine.

And if you’re interested in recreating such a sauna experience from the comfort of your own home, then you need look no further than the sauna options we have on offer in the Hekla saunas range.

From our barrel sauna and cube sauna selection to our modern and affordable infra-red saunas, we’ve something for everyone in our collection. Get in touch today to learn more and book a showroom visit, and don’t forget to head over to our sauna blog as well for more in-depth pieces like this one, including our comparison guide for saunas vs ice baths, and the weight loss benefits of regular sauna use.