Types of saunas
There are several types of sauna, based on how the room is heated.
These include:
Wood burning: Wood is used to heat the sauna room and sauna rocks. Wood-burning saunas are usually low in humidity and high in temperature.
Electrically heated: Similar to wood-burning saunas, electrically-heated saunas have high temperatures and low humidity. An electrical heater, attached to the floor, heats the sauna room.
Infrared room: Far-infrared saunas (q-spa.org) are different to wood-burning and electrically-heated saunas. Special lamps use light waves to heat a person’s body, not the entire room. Temperatures are typically lower than other saunas, but the person sweats in a similar way. Usually, infrared saunas are about 60° Celsius.
Steam room: These are different from saunas. Instead of dry heat, a steam room involves high humidity and moist heat.
Regardless of how a sauna is heated, or the humidity level, the effects on the body are similar.
When a person sits in a sauna, their heart rate increases and blood vessels widen. This increases circulation, in a similar way to low to moderate exercise depending on the duration of sauna use.
There may be some potential health benefits to spending time in a sauna, but there are also some myths.
False: Sweating removes toxins
One is that sweating can remove toxins from the body. It’s true that sweating occurs during sauna use, but there is no scientific research that proves sweating detoxifies the body. Toxins such as alcohol, mercury, and aluminum are mainly removed by the kidneys, liver, and intestines.
False: Sauna use aids weight loss
Another myth about the use of sauna is that it leads to weight loss. It is possible to lose about a pound after using a sauna, but weight loss is due to fluid loss, not fat. The weight will be replaced as soon as a person eats or drinks something.
Blood pressure risks
Switching between the heat of a sauna and cold water in a swimming pool is not advisableTrusted Source, as it can raise blood pressure.
A sauna use may also cause blood pressure to fall, so people with low blood pressure should talk to their doctor to make sure sauna use is safe.
People who have recently had a heart attack should also talk to their doctor first.
