What Happens To Your Body In A Sauna

Wet Vs Dry Saunas: What's The Difference?

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Both wet and dry saunas are very popular, and both have a host of health benefits. It's the rocks and water in a sauna that determine whether it's wet or dry: a sauna with rocks giving off heat is a dry sauna, and if water is splashed onto the rocks creating a whole load of steam, that's your wet sauna. What happens to your body in a sauna will be the same whether it's wet or dry! So what exactly happens?

Your Core Temperature Increases

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As we know, saunas are very, very hot - and that's their appeal. You know if you go into a sauna - whether wet or dry - it's going to be hot! And that's because saunas are built to increase your core temperature - and that's exactly what happens. You'll start to heat from the inside!

Your Heart Rate Goes Up

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This increase in core temperature in turn makes your heart rate go up. This is also why it's not recommended to spend too long in a sauna if you're not used to them and you feel like your heart is pounding! Your heart rate will increase in response to the very dry heat in a sauna.

Your Veins Actually Get Bigger!

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Saunas mean very good news for your blood flow and circulation, and that's because your veins widen during your time spent in a sauna! It may feel weird to think that your veins are actually being enlarged when you're in a sauna, but it's all for good health benefits!

And Blood Flow Improves As A Result

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So the increased heart rate and the larger veins will give your blood flow a huge boost. Obviously in a sauna you will feel yourself flushing and burning up, and your blood flow is moving around your body quicker and more vigorously during this time, so it's all healthy circulation!

You Might Even Lower Any High Blood Pressure Problems

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There have actually been studies that suggest time spent in a sauna could help to tackle high blood pressure problems. This is because of the benefits of increased heart rate, healthier blood flow and opening up those veins. So you might want to speak to your doctor about trying a sauna if you have high blood pressure problems!

The Sweating Draws Out Toxins In Your Body

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As well as getting pretty darn hot, another thing you can guarantee in a sauna is that you'll sweat your pants off - if you're wearing any under your towel, that is. A sauna will make your body sweat enough to draw out a whole load of toxins from your body. You'll literally be sweating out the bad stuff!

Saunas Help You Sweat Out About One Third Of Pollutants

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The amount of pollutants and toxins actually being drawn from your body during a sauna sessions is around one third of the pollutants that your kidneys work hard to remove from your bloodstream. One third! That's a huge amount to say you only have a quick sauna sesh.

Your Body Will Become Less Stressed

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Spending time in a sauna is often done as part of a spa experience, or when you're looking to relax, maybe after a vigorous workout. As well as being a good physical health treatment, a lot of people use them for mental wellbeing, too. And your physical body will feel less tension whilst in a sauna.

The Sauna Heat Produces Feel-Good Endorphins

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The high amount of heat from a sauna will actually make your body start to secrete endorphins, which are those feel good chemicals we associate with a good workout or anything that makes us feel happy. It's actually the production of these endorphins that will make your body feel less uptight.

Any Stiff Or Sore Muscles Will Feel Better

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Because your body is releasing heat, sweat and those oh-so-good chemical endorphins, you may also find that any stiff or sore muscles are eased in a sauna. That's because endorphins are good as pain killers, and may help to provide relief. This can be great news for athletic injuries or for people who struggle with chronic pain.

You May Lose Weight (But It's Only Temporary!)

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If you're thinking of using a sauna to aid with weight loss, you'll be happy... until you left the sauna, that is. That's because you will actually lose weight whilst in there due to all the water you're losing from sweating. But your weight will go back up again once your fluid levels are normal later!

Your Skin Will Get A Workout

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Your skin is the largest organ of the body, but most people actually forget that! And your skin could always do with a workout and a freshen up, too. During your time in a sauna, your skin will get a solid work out due to the increased blood flow and everything flushing out of it!

You Will Actually Grow New Skin

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This increased blood flow at a rapid pace inside a short space of time will actually promote new skin growth while you're in there. The boost in circulation will make it easier for your skin to renew itself, and your skin will look healthy and flushed as a result.

And Dead Skin Cells Will Be Removed

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During this process, your body is also getting rid of dead skin cells to make way for new ones. Increased blood flow and sweating is one way to promote dead skin cells shedding and flushing out all that bad stuff to make way for new skin cells so you can enjoy a healthier glow.

All Of This Will Result In An Improved Complexion!

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You may not feel like you look particular great when you emerge from the sauna with sweat dripping down your face and feeling like you might faint, but your skin will definitely be glowing - and not just from the sweat, we promise! The increased blood flow and new skin turnover will help your complexion improve!

Regular Sauna Sessions Can Strengthen Your Immune System

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Saunas are great for strengthening your immune system so that you can better prepare your body against sickness. The way saunas do this is by actually simulating having a fever - because they raise your body temperature so high, it's like a practice run for when you're ill so your body learns how to fight it better!

But It Probably Won't Work If You Already Have The Flu!

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There is some debate about whether you should use a sauna when you have the flu - or at the very least, an at-home sauna like steaming up your bathroom to sweat out your illness. But as well as risking exposing others to your flu if your in a public sauna, it's also not recommended because you need to stay hydrated when you're ill - and if you're already running a temp, you won't be comfortable!

Your Heart Health Will Be Improved

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Due to everything happening with your body's core temperature, your blood vessels and your heart rate, when you use a sauna regular for the long-term, this could result in your heart being healthier and happier. Paired with a good diet and exercise, you're in for a win!

And This May Decrease Your Risk Of Heart Disease In The Long-Term

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And because your heart health is happier for the long term, this can also result in a decreased risk of heart diseases. Studies show that things like heart disease and other common diseases are contributed greatly by stress - and because saunas reduce your stress levels, it could also help against certain disease.

You Might Also Reduce Your Risk Of Heart Attack And Stroke

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With all of this good news for your heart also comes the decreased risk of cardiac arrest or even a stroke. Studies have shown that regular usage of a sauna over the long-term can reduce the risk of fatal heart attacks, as well as alleviate the risk of heart attacks and strokes with reduction in high blood pressure (hypertension).

Your Brain Health Is Improved

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As well as your heart, there have actually been studies to show that sauna usage over a prolonged period of time could work wonders for your brain health, too. This is directly linked to brain diseases or conditions, like Alzheimer's or Dementia, the risks of which are lowered.

The Level Of Cortisol In Your Blood Is Decreased

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Cortisol is known as the 'stress hormone', because it's this hormone that's released in the body when we're feeling particularly uptight. With sauna usage, you actually decrease the level of cortisol in your body, because saunas work to reduce that stress. It's the heat of the sauna that helps to regulate this.

This Can Help With Insomnia

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When stress levels are high, this can lead to trouble sleeping, and a lot of anxious and stressed people may struggle with insomnia. With sauna usage helping to reduce levels of cortisol, reduce levels of stress and have you feeling relaxed overall, this can help to tackle insomnia.

And Also Help Promote A Deeper Sleep

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Not only does sauna usage help relax your body enough so that you can better drift off, it also promotes a much deeper sleep when you actually fall asleep. This one is more applicable if you use a sauna in the evening in preparation for bed, because the rise in endorphins which then later fall close to bed time can make you sleep more deeply.

White Blood Cells Are More Quickly Produced

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White blood cells are a key part of the body's immune system, and they help to fight off illness and disease. Due to the exposure of heat and steam in a wet sauna, your body then produces white blood cells at a more rapid rate, so this helps to promote illness-fighting in a better way!

And It'll Help Clear Up Your Sinuses, Too

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If you struggle with sinus issues or if your sinuses are blocked, maybe just an off day or if you're having allergies, then a sauna can help with that too. The heat and steam from a sauna and the excess sweating will help your nose to run and to clear out anything congested in there!

Your Pores Will Be Cleaned

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Because sweat helps to clean out the build up of bacteria on your skin, this also goes for clearing out pores. If you're been struggling with clogged pores, have obvious pores and/or struggling with spots, a sauna could do your skin some good in cleaning them out.

It's A Great Place For Mindful Solitude

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If you have the opportunity to use a sauna alone - if you build your own at home, you choose accommodation with one included or if you're just lucky enough to go to the spa on a quiet day - this can be the perfect time to have mindfulness while enjoying all the health benefits of the heat.

But Also A Great Place To Reconnect Socially!

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But that isn't to say that a sauna can't be the perfect social place! If you use a sauna with family or friends, this is actually an ideal social space whilst also getting a healthy treatment in. Because you don't have the distractions of your phone or tv, it can be a great social 'relaxing retreat'!

And Now, Here's What Happens To Your Body After A Massage: You'll Feel Less Stressed

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This might be an obvious one, seeing as massage is a go-to for stress relief, but it's true - you're going to feel more relaxed and feel as though the stress has been ironed out of you after a massage. If you've never had one before, it's important to know it's a great option for stress relief.

This Counts For Both Emotional And Physical Stress

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It's a double whammy when it comes to stress relief. You're not just going to mentally and emotionally feel more at ease, as the point of a good massage, too, is to knead the stress out of your muscles. So overall, on every level, you're going to feel like the stress has been worked out of you!

Your Heart Rate Is Going To Decrease

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Massages have been shown to reduce high blood pressure and heart rate. Of course, there are many different types of massages, but one of the most common can be the traditional Swedish massage, focusing on your back. This can send you in a 'rest and digest' state with health benefits.

And This Can Be Good News For Tackling Heart Conditions, Too

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With a reduction in high blood pressure, improved circulation and reduced heart rate, this is going to benefit your heart (and overall) health enormously over time. If you get regular massages, like once a month, this is only going to help decrease risks of heart problems relating to high blood pressure and stress.

Any Pain Will Be Reduced

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Massage is a great option for chronic pain, as a specific treatment to help you manage and alleviate pain. There are some massages that are more painful than others, such as deep tissue or sports massages, which nevertheless still target pain you're having. But a relaxing massage that doesn't hurt can help to alleviate pain you're having, like back pain.

You Might Even Feel A Little Sick

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This depends on the type of massage you have, and your body's reaction to it. Obviously it doesn't sound too great thinking you might feel sick after a massage - but if you've had a very deep massage, such as one targeted for deep treatment rather than just general relaxation, you might end up feeling a little light-headed or queasy afterwards.

Or Maybe Have A Headache

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You might be annoyed to think you can actually come out of the massage with some pain, especially an annoying headache, after you wanted to relax - but it's always a possibility. The main thing is to drink plenty of water, but also let your massage therapist know if you're reacting badly to a certain massage!

Your Sensory Awareness Goes Up

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During a massage, your face is going to be mashed (comfortably, of course) into a hole and your eyes will be closed. This heightens your sensory awareness because you're focusing on the feel of the massage on your muscles and skin. And this continues after the massage, too - your sensory awareness will be heightened.

This Can Also Be Great News For Your Mind

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Greater sensory awareness means more focus on things you can feel, see, touch, smell etc. It's a common technique employed for meditation and mindfulness, too, where you concentrate fully in the moment on what you can feel physically. This is why sensory awareness increase from massage can help you to feel more grounded and ease your mind.

You'll Be Able To Better Regulate Your Emotions

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Massage is all about physical touch and relief, but it works wonders on your emotions. Think how worse you feel when you're stressed, when your body is in pain or you're feeling tight in your body. When massages ease out that physical pain, your emotions will likely be improved, too.

You Might Also Get Early Warning On Health Conditions

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Massage therapists are experts in what they do, and although they're not doctors there to diagnose you, any sort of massage may flag up an issue they can find or can mention to you that may need further diagnosis. Especially if you're suffering chronically from something, you can speak to them about the physical issues you're having.

You'll Feel Tired

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It's important to give yourself a moment before you drive your car away from your appointment or need to do anything else that needs focus! Apart from being extremely relaxed you'll likely be sleepy, too, from being in a dimly-lit room and having your eyes closed. Some people even fall asleep during massages, too!

Your Circulation Will Be Improved

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Regular massages will work to improve your circulation, which is always good news for your body. Having more oxygenated blood being pushed around your body can help to combat any pain issues you're having, relieve tension and making sure nutrients are getting to your body's tissue.

You'll Get A Great Night's Sleep Later That Day

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There are many good reasons you'll likely get a good night's sleep the same day as your massage (and you'll probably be ready for bed soon as you get home!). You'll feel more relaxed and sleepy, but you also might be in less pain from any pain conditions and sleep more comfortably without tension.

Your Parasympathetic Nervous System Will Be Activated

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When your massage therapist's hands are moving over you, they're actually working to activate your parasympathetic nervous system. This is when your nervous system goes into a state of relaxation and releases feel good hormones, which combatting stress hormones.

It Can Be A Chance To Bond

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If you get a shared massage experience, like a couple's massage or a massage with a friend or family member, it's a chance to bond during the experience while you block out the outside world, have your mood elevated and stress reduced. This can help you connect with someone in a better way!

Your Breathing Will Be Improved

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Did you know that massage can also help to improve your respiratory system? We know that deep breathing is good for the mind and body, after all. As well as breathing being helped by the reduction in heart rate, the slow, smooth strokes can help for more regular breathing patterns.

It's An Act Of Self-Care

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If you're someone who has spent a lot of time being tied to a desk, working long hours and feel stressed, massage is one of the best things you can do for your body and self. You might even feel emotional afterwards because of the relief you feel in your tense body, and maybe realize how much you've been neglecting yourself!

Your Bones Will Be Improved!

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Massage can help your skeletal system, too. Through the increased circulation that comes with massage, more oxygen and nutrients will be sent to the bones around your body. This is why massage may also help you to feel more flexible, and ease any joint pain.

Your Digestive System Will Work More Smoothly

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You might not have related digestion to a massage, but it's true! And you may have thought a stomach massage was weird, but you'll completely understand after you have one! Massage can help to promote better digestion flow through better circulation so your digestive system doesn't become sluggish.