During a sweat bath, a lot of wonderful things happen underneath the skin that you may not be aware of. First of all, the capillaries dilate, allowing the blood flow to the skin to increase. This takes the heat away from the surface, allowing it to dissolve within the body. When this happens in a sweat bath, the skin tends to turn red. The blood will then have greater demand since the heart will be pressed to work in a quicker pace. Secondly, any impurities that may be present in the stomach, kidneys, liver, muscles, brain, and other organs will be flushed out because of the blood’s quicker flow. The kidneys and the skin will filter through the waste and let them go through bodily fluids, such as urine and sweat.

Experts say that the quick flexing of the blood vessels and the heart during a sweat bath is very beneficial to one’s health since it exercises the heart by putting more strain on it than when it is on regular ground. The heightened volume of the capillaries is said to keep blood pressure on a normal level. Medical professionals agree to these studies, as well. One study that was done in Finland concluded that a healthy person’s blood pressure tends to stay pretty much the same while in a sweat bath, but the blood pressure of a person who has high blood pressure tends to have a reduced blood pressure while in a sweat bath. This healthy effect turned out to only be temporary, though.

The skin’s surface temperature has the capability of rising all the way up to 10C, while the inner temperature can rise only up to 3C. This occurrence is known as the fever that Hippocrates and other medical practitioners sought in the past, believed to cure various diseases; today, we know it can be created simply by sitting in a sauna. Naturally, not every disease can be treated by this “fever”, but today, everybody knows that a lot of viral and bacterial agents are not capable of survival at temperatures that are higher than normal body temperature. Damaged cells also tend to repair themselves much faster under the conditions of this “fever” because metabolism tends to increase. Recovering from an illness is more rapid under these conditions, as well.

Raising the inner temperature also has an effect on the functions of the pituitary glands, which are located at the bottom center of the brain. The pituitary glands are known as the master gland since it regulates various activities of other glands, like the adrenal, thyroid, testes and ovaries. Through the increased temperatures, the pituitary glands make the metabolism of the body go faster and it also affects a lot of the body’s hormones. A lot of people are convinced that saunas also increase one’s sex drive.

The heart isn’t the only organ of the body that will benefit from sauna sweat baths. Because the body needs around twenty percent more oxygen while within the confines of this temperature, the lungs also work in a faster pace. (The lungs are essential in eliminating bodily wastes, as well.) The heat opens up respiratory passages that were blocked and thus relieves colds and several other minor respiratory problems. Do take note, however, that saunas are not advised for those who suffer from pneumonia or several other acute respiratory diseases.

Filed under: Fitness by Don