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Private Spa Blue started in 2016 in Everberg, near Brussels.
What’s better in winter than some alone time in a steamy sauna? But as you sit in the sauna sweating all the stress away, you might wonder whether the heat is actually healthy. Fortunately, a bunch of new research suggests that it is.
For starters, sauna bathing might help you break out of the winter doldrums. Some small studies have shown improvement in some symptoms of depression with sauna use, including hunger, pain, and ability to relax.
Still, it’s important to remember a few safety tips. The risk of skin damage increases after 20 minutes of intense heat, so spend just 15 to 20 minutes steaming at a time. Drink a glass of water before you step in inside to reduce your risk of dehydration. If you start feeling abdominal discomfort, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, headache or muscle cramping, it’s time to cut your session short. And be sure to call your doctor if you experience chest pain from your sauna experience, adds Dr. Shah. Finally, skip the sauna altogether if you take the anti-seizure drug topiramate or if you have pulmonary hypertension.
For starters, sauna bathing might help you break out of the winter doldrums. Some small studies have shown improvement in some symptoms of depression with sauna use, including hunger, pain, and ability to relax.
Still, it’s important to remember a few safety tips. The risk of skin damage increases after 20 minutes of intense heat, so spend just 15 to 20 minutes steaming at a time. Drink a glass of water before you step in inside to reduce your risk of dehydration. If you start feeling abdominal discomfort, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, headache or muscle cramping, it’s time to cut your session short. And be sure to call your doctor if you experience chest pain from your sauna experience, adds Dr. Shah. Finally, skip the sauna altogether if you take the anti-seizure drug topiramate or if you have pulmonary hypertension.
SAUNA CAN PROTECT YOUR BRAIN
Perspiring in steamy temps might help you preserve your memory. In a study recently published in the journal Age and Ageing, men who used a sauna multiple times a week had a lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
More robust studies would be needed to strengthen this association, but I wonder if this is partly related to improved blood flow to the brain with sauna therapy.
One possible explanation is that saunas improve the lining of the blood vessels, allowing for more productive blood flow to organs like the heart and brain.
Perspiring in steamy temps might help you preserve your memory. In a study recently published in the journal Age and Ageing, men who used a sauna multiple times a week had a lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
More robust studies would be needed to strengthen this association, but I wonder if this is partly related to improved blood flow to the brain with sauna therapy.
One possible explanation is that saunas improve the lining of the blood vessels, allowing for more productive blood flow to organs like the heart and brain.