For thousands of years, people have enjoyed the benefits of a sauna. These hot and steamy rooms have been enjoyed by many for relaxation and health benefits throughout history. Although the structure has changed over the years, saunas as still widely used today. Homeowners can even choose to have a sauna installed in their homes. With the advent of infrared saunas, more people are able to enjoy the wonderful benefits.
What is an Infrared Sauna?
An infrared sauna is a small room that utilizes infrared light to emit heat to those inside. The infrared light is absorbed by the skin to create intense warmth to provide users with a sauna experience. The safe recommendations for using an infrared sauna suggest intervals of 20 minutes to receive the most benefits.
The saunas use infrared heaters that transmit infrared waves through the air. When infrared light touches a surface, such as the skin, it releases heat energy. This heat energy causes the user’s body temperature to increase without increasing the temperature of the room.
How Does It Differ from a Traditional Sauna?
Unlike an infrared sauna, traditional saunas heat the entire room. Often, these saunas use hot stones to create the high temperatures needed to create the warmth of the sauna. As the air in the room heats up, the user’s body heats up. Soon, users are sweating and enjoying the benefits of a sauna.
Traditional saunas are also very humid. Although hot stones are used, water is often poured over the stones to create steam to fill the room. The steam helps to fill the room with heat faster and creates the right atmosphere for enjoying the sauna.
Which Sauna is Better for Inside a Home?
A traditional sauna requires homeowners to build an entire room. The room must meet specific recommendations to create a steamy sauna. Since the traditional sauna creates a lot of steam and humidity, the right materials are needed to prevent mold growth.
Homeowners must also take steps to prevent any issues with the steam that leaves the room upon entry and exit. As the steam escapes, it can create issues of mildew and mold throughout those areas of the home. Regular cleaning of the area, as well as inspections, are necessary to prevent mold and other water damage issues.
Infrared saunas do not use steam to provide benefits. Homeowners do not need to worry about mold issues in or around the units. In addition, these units can come premade and offer easy installation almost anywhere in the home. Infrared saunas also require less energy to run than traditional saunas due to the efficiency of heating the body and not the room.
Health Benefits of a Sauna
Saunas offer users a plethora of health benefits with regular use. Relaxation and stress reduction are some immediate benefits users can find with each use of a sauna. The increase in sweat production can also be beneficial for the skin and offer users a clearer, glowing appearance.
Studies have shown that sauna use can help with serious health conditions as well. For example, the cardiovascular system can be improved by adding a sauna visit to one’s regular health routine. The increased heat will increase the user’s heart rate. It mimics the reaction of the heart to that of exercise. This reaction can help reduce blood pressure and ease other cardiovascular issues.
From soothing sore muscles to providing pain relief, a simple visit to the sauna can improve a person’s well-being and may even help in fighting off illnesses. Although both sauna types can provide these benefits, only one option is easy to install and more affordable.
