Saunas are enclosures that use infrared heaters or stoves to emanate dry heat. Increasingly used options for relaxation and pain relief, saunas can be helpful in reducing congestion, discomfort due to arthritis and muscle soreness after exercise. A widely-held notion is that saunas aid weight loss, but there is no scientific evidence behind this belief.
Weight Loss
The Health Division of the University of Alabama at Birmingham says that saunas do not aid weight loss. A sauna session typically lasts for about 15 minutes, and users experience profuse sweating due to the high heat. A common belief is that body fat melts away in the heat and leaves the body in the form of sweat. Many people think that the fat in the body reacts to high temperatures in the same way as solid cooking fats that melt at high heat.
While it is true that there is some immediate weight loss after a sauna session, this is entirely due to the loss of body fluids. As soon as you drink water or some other fluid, you regain the lost weight. Saunas also do not cleanse the pores on your skin any better than a simple wash.
Detoxification
Sauna companies claim that heavy sweating in a sauna rids the body of toxins and other impurities. Dr. Dee Ann Glaser, a dermatology professor at St. Louis University, says that the detoxification you can achieve from a sauna session is negligible, because sweat only carries a minuscule amount of toxins. On the contrary, heavy sweating can cause dehydration and prevent the kidneys from detoxifying the blood efficiently. The body has an efficient, natural mechanism of removing toxins and metals from the system by means of urination and defecation. Saunas do not aid this process in any manner, notes Donald Smith, professor of environmental toxicology at the University of California.
Safety Precautions
The dry heat of a sauna raises body temperature, and the user starts sweating because it is the body's primary cooling mechanism. The pulse rate increases and the heart pumps more blood to the skin. The effect on blood pressure varies from person to person, says the Harvard Medical School. If you have unstable blood pressure, heart disease or irregular heart rhythms, stay away from saunas and other hot enclosures. Excessive overheating can have fatal consequences.
To avoid problems, limit the duration of your sauna sessions to 15 minutes or less. Avoid using the sauna if you are feeling weak or ill. Never consume alcohol or medication that make you drowsy before you enter a sauna.
Tips for Sauna Use
Keep your skin clear of oils or creams that may impede sweating. To avoid stressing the heart, cool down slowly after a sauna session and avoid cold environments or cold water for some time. If you feel weak, drowsy or nauseous, get out of the sauna immediately. Make sure help is nearby if you need it and drink plenty of water before and after a sauna session.
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