What is the influence of sauna on health?
During a bath in the sauna, a warm and cold stimulus acts on the body alternatively. It causes various reactions of the organism.
The human body responds to a strong stimulus of heat by expanding the blood vessels in the skin (redness of the skin) and secretion of sweat. This is to maintain the temperature inside the body at 37’C. However, this gives only a partial success in the sauna. Although only 10g of water evaporates every minute from a rapidly moisturized body surface, the resulting cooling is not enough to keep the temperature on the body surface and inside. The temperature of the skin, which at room temperature is only 30’C, increases in the sauna by almost 10’C to about 40’C. The internal temperature of the body is 38’C and increases to 38.5’C.
A lot of heat from the hot surfaces of the wood and the stove affects the skin in the form of radiation (infrared). Inhaled heat from the air surrounding the body affects the mucous membranes of the respiratory system. The combination of these interactions gives a strong effect, even though the heat transfer to the skin from the hot air surrounding the body is inhibited by the immobile air layer (insulating layer) that adheres to the entire skin. Just this adjoining layer is the reason that despite the dry air in the sauna, not all the sweat evaporates, but sometimes creates drops on the skin that flow down the body.
Under the influence of heat, the blood vessels in the whole skin system dilate and blood reservoirs empty. The volume of circulating blood increases and its flow is faster. The pulse is accelerated by about 50%. Faster circulation provides the sweat gland with sufficient sweat material and transfers heat from the skin to the interior of the body. Because blood pressure is associated with changes in the circulation, changes occurring cause a certain normalization of previous too high or too low pressure values.
Heating phase
Increasing the body temperature (skin 10ºC inside 1ºC) Oxygen saturation in the skin tissue. Sweating. Purification Possibility to normalize blood pressure. Improvement of circulation in the skin. Relaxing muscles and mind. Psychological stimulation.
Cooling phase
Normalization of body temperature. Stimulation of kidney function. Calming heartbeat. Activation of peripheral blood vessels Feeling refreshed.
GENERAL EFFECTS
Cleans the skin and stimulates the emergence of new cells
Hardening, increased resistance against infections
Activate the heart and fit the circulation
Stimulation of the adrenals-pituitary system
Improving mood with general well-being
PERMANENT SYSTEMATIC EFFECTS OF BATHING IN SAUNA:
Prevention of respiratory infections
Activation of the blood pressure adjustment function, blood supply
Improvement of circulation in the skin and mucosa of the respiratory system is possible also in coronary vessels
skin care
During the cooling phase, the increased body temperature should return to the initial temperature. During this process, the oxygen content in the blood increases again. Due to the subsequent stimulus of cold and hot feet on the skin, which accelerates the involuntary expansion of the blood vessels, they are actually activated. While the effect of heat is physically and psychologically felt as relaxation, the use of cold water causes a refreshing sensation and provides impulses to the autonomic nervous system and important hormone-producing glands (pituitary and adrenal cortex), which can be considered as weak stimuli activating them. Salt cave strengthens the body.
In conclusion, the sauna has a beneficial effect on the surface system, the cardiovascular system and the water balance. The rate of removal of deposits increases and resistance to infections is strengthened