Sauna and Stress Reduction: Why Sauna Therapy Is the Key to Relaxation

Portable sauna benefits stress

Stress and anxiety affect nearly everyone at some point, and with depression being one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions in the U.S., finding effective ways to manage these challenges is crucial. One increasingly popular method is the use of saunas for stress. They offer a range of mental and physical benefits that may help alleviate stress and improve overall well-being

Some people are also at risk of cognitive impairment conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s later in life. Considering the monetary and emotional costs of these health conditions on the victims as well as their families and friends, it’d no wonder that most people fear this more than other chronic conditions.

Sauna and Stress

Scientific findings show that infrared sauna therapy is effective in helping users stay mentally strong and cognitively sound.

Sauna and stress

Heat treatment through infrared sauna therapy could help alleviate symptoms associated with anxiety, stress, and depression.  

Infrared sauna use has been linked with longevity and postponing or avoiding cognitive decline.

Natural Stress Relievers – Infrared Sauna

One of the unexpected benefits of sauna use is stress relief. Despite being a very important health benefit, this is a very undervalued and understated benefit to infrared saunas. Most people report that after a 30 to 45-minute session in the sauna, they come out feeling refreshed and relaxed. Stress is causing a wide range of health problems for many people and some treatment regimes have started adding stress management to their programs.

How does stress impact our lives?

Sauna and stress

Stress is so ingrained in our daily lives today. In fact, it is almost everywhere you turn; deadlines, traffic, cell phones, overbearing bosses, and more.

Numerous studies have linked stress to a wide range of health conditions including heart disease, lowered immune function, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s, obesity, and premature death. When you’re stressed, the mind and body take a defensive “fight or flight” position.

This natural Autonomic Nervous System response is designed to take you away from potentially dangerous situations. However, the body is not designed to remain in the “flight or fight” position for extended periods. Unfortunately, most people live in this position daily and this creates a path to the “danger zone”

When you are stressed for extended periods of time, your body gradually wears down and your adrenal glands (which help regulate the “fight or flight” response) start malfunctioning. During a stress response, the body directs all of its energy into your muscles in a bid to “protect” itself. As a result, the brain, organs, and nervous system are depleted of this vital life force which helps them heal and sustain optimal health.

Many chronically and highly stressed people suffer from gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases, which often result in stroke or heart attack. Continuous production of stress hormones such as epinephrine and cortisol has very damaging effects on our bodies over time. These dangerous hormones disrupt metabolism and normal function and have been closely linked to the physiology cascade that leads to the health conditions discussed above.

Natural Remedies for Nervousness

This can be resolved by getting into the parasympathetic nervous system (the “relaxation” or “rest and digest” state). While in the sauna, your body is surrounded by heaters that produce infrared heat. The heat penetrates up to 2 inches into your body causing pain relief, muscle relaxation, vasodilation, and an overall feeling of well-being. This stimulates the release of endorphins which help relax the entire body.

Using an infrared sauna regularly and repeatedly over several weeks significantly reduces stress even when you’re out of the sauna. Most infrared sauna users report greater peace and improved sleep.

Sauna and stress

When you’re stressed, various chemical changes occur, resulting in unbalanced hormones. Studies show that far infrared sauna therapy helps normalize hormone levels thereby restoring a healthy state by rebalancing both the body and mind. Since stress is the leading cause of disease, adding an infrared sauna to your stress management or stress management program has been shown to be highly beneficial.

Infrared sauna therapy is a great way to relax in soothing warmth while allowing the much-needed healing energy to re-enter all depleted and sore areas of your body.  

It is clear that infrared sauna use makes you feel good, reduces anxiety, and lowers stress. In addition to the “feel-good factor,” saunas have other health benefits which make them a worthy investment in your mental and physical well-being.

Natural Remedy to Calm Nerves

A trip to the infrared sauna is leisure time. It’s an enjoyable and pleasant healing activity. Infrared saunas are designed for relaxation and rest. They are great places to feel calm, chill, and escape from the worries of the world for a short time.

This getaway to relax and rest is very beneficial for the body as well as the brain. Infrared sauna use could have a significant impact on your mental well-being. Spending time in the tranquility of an infrared sauna helps cleanse your mind and body. Most people describe the feeling they get after leaving the infrared sauna as “pleasant” and “calm”. Although this feeling lasts for a relatively short time, studies show that it provides long-term benefits.

Add good company to infrared sauna use and you have a have yourself a high-quality leisure activity. The moderate use of infrared saunas is entirely a healthy and pleasant activity.

An infrared sauna is a form of thermotherapy

Infrared saunas sessions feel good because the body responds to the heat. The skin senses the rise in temperature and sends signals to the hypothalamus hence triggering the release of “feel good” hormones. Moreover, as your breathing rate increases, your blood circulation also increases and this creates a pleasant sensation.

Sauna and stress

Whilst in an infrared sauna, the body keeps working, just like when you’re exercising (physical stress).

Sauna and Stress

As a result, the heart keeps pumping significantly higher amounts of blood in order to supply all cells and keep up with the demand created by increased heat. This requires the lungs to be more active, boosting oxygen intake to keep the blood oxygenated. Higher oxygen intake is closely associated with relaxation and positive emotions.

The bottom line

All in all, the stress-relieving benefits of infrared saunas are quite clear. The heat provided in infrared saunas helps relieve stress, improve mental health, and can have a calming effect on individuals with anxiety. It makes it easier to relax, improves sleeping disorders, and improves your appetite, which are all signs and symptoms of stress.

sauna and stress