Using infrared light for health and wellness is not a new phenomenon, and infrared has been used in hospitals, even to treat babies, for many years now.
However, the home infrared sauna market is one that has exploded in recent times, with homeowners across the UK taking advantage of their affordability, and the customisation options that they provide to bring a touch of boutique spa experience into their own property.
But can infrared saunas really complete with traditional wood clad Finnish style saunas that have been used in Scandinavia for over 5000 years?
Here, we will examine exactly what infrared saunas are, how they compare to more traditional sauna types, and some of the reasons that so many professional athletes and wellbeing experts swear by them as a tool for relaxation and recovery.
How do they work?
Traditional saunas create heat that is used to warm the air inside the room. In contrast, an infrared sauna heats you directly, with infrared panels sending heat directly into the human tissue beneath your skin. Far Infrared waves can penetrate up to 4 cm deep, far more effective for deep muscle relief and blood circulation than warm air alone.
Infrared saunas tend to operate at around 45-60 degrees Celsius, still pretty warm, but significantly less than the 70-90 degrees of a traditional sauna that many people find a bit overwhelming.
There are a number of different benefits to a sauna that is heated to a lower temperatures whilst still retaining all the fantastic benefits that have made saunas so popular over the years.
Benefits of infrared saunas
Mental relaxation
The physical benefits of regular sauna use are pretty well-known and extensive research has been done to back up anecdotal evidence. The mental health benefits of using an infrared sauna on a regular basis, however, are just as significant.
Studies that shown a noticeable drop in stress levels following a sauna session and even relief from symptoms of depression and other mental health problems.
Once you leave your sauna, you will feel more relaxed and less anxious, and your very own home infrared sauna is the perfect place to retreat to after a long day at work and forget about the worries and stresses of the day.
Better sleep
Infrared saunas help you to relax and unwind and can dramatically improve the quality of your sleep. Getting sufficient sleep is critical to good health, and using a sauna will not only make it easier to get in your recommended hours, but can also extend the length of your sleep REM cycles, meaning you will wake up in the morning feeling far more refreshed and ready to tackle the challenges of the days ahead.
Reduced blood pressure
High blood pressure dramatically increases your risk of a number of serious and possibly life-threatening conditions including heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, and more.
Using an infrared sauna will raise your body temperature, causing your blood vessels to dilate and blood pressure to fall.
Please note that if you suffer from low blood pressure that you should always check with a doctor before using a sauna of any kind just to make sure it is safe.
Ease muscle pain
Penetrating deep into muscle tissue and fibres, infrared heat provides effective relief from muscle aching and pain. Not only does infrared sauna use send oxygenated blood to damaged tissue, promoting fast healing, it also helps to remove lactic acid from the muscle itself.
All this means that you will able to recover quicker after a workout or simply a tough day at work, and get back to doing what you love pain free quicker than ever before.
Reduced risk of Alzheimer’s?
There have been some suggestions that regular sauna use may reduce the risk or severity of dementia and Alzheimer’s although further study is required to identify if this effect is higher or lower when an infrared sauna is used.
Are there any downsides?
The downsides to infrared saunas are very few and far between. The main reason that people might still wish to choose a traditional sauna is exactly that; tradition. Some people love the steam filled wood clad room of a Finnish sauna and care more about the authenticity of the experience itself than the health benefits that heat treatments can offer.
The only other potential downside is that infrared saunas do not produce steam in the same way as a steam sauna does. Steam brings its own array of health benefits including easing the symptoms of colds by clearing congestion and removing impurities from the surface of the skin.
For most people, these benefits are a worthy sacrifice considering the incredible advantages to choosing an infrared sauna, but if these are most important aspects of sauna use for you personally, an infrared sauna might not be the best option.
Get in touch now to discover more about the best home infrared sauna Glasgow products on the market.
