The Physical Health Benefits of a Sauna Cabin

Given the frenzy of day-to-day life, where the pressures of work and daily responsibilities can leave you feeling exhausted and strained, the warmth and comfort of an Arctic Cabins sauna is the perfect escape, the ideal self-care space to help you break free from the outside world! Originally developed as a way of cleaning the body in Northern Europe in 2000 BC, the modern-day sauna has become an established tool for promoting physical health and general wellbeing. Join us as we explore why Arctic Cabins saunas are not only a luxurious retreat, but also an effective tool for transforming your physical health for the better!

What are the physical health benefits of saunas?

As well as providing a warm and comforting place to relax, reflect and unwind, regularly using a sauna is associated with a wide range of physical health benefits, with some studies even suggesting that taking time to sit in a sauna 2-3 times a week can improve life expectancy and reduce the risk of developing various cardiovascular health complications.

Below we explore just some of the ways relaxing in an Arctic Cabins sauna could really benefit your physical health...

(1) Improves Blood Circulation

The warmth of a sauna causes the body’s core temperature to begin to rise. Tasked with ensuring your core body temperature remains at a healthy level, the central nervous system responds by telling the blood vessels to vasodilate, meaning they become wider. This allows for an increased supply of blood to flow towards the surface of the skin, forcing the heat out. Consequently, your brain and muscles also receive an increased supply of oxygenated blood and key nutrients, helping maintain or even improve cognitive function, emotional regulation as well as helping your muscles recover faster after strenuous physical activity.

(2) Reduces Blood Pressure

Studies also indicate that regularly taking time to relax in a sauna may have positive effects for both your short and long-term blood pressure levels. In an interview with Harvard Health, professor Adolph Hutter explains that “the high temperatures in a warm sauna cause your blood vessels to dilate, which lowers blood pressure”. Long term, this can be extremely beneficial for the health of your cardiovascular system, with reductions in blood pressure reducing the risk of a range of chronic conditions such as anxiety, hypertension, coronary heart disease and stroke.

(3) Detoxification

Saunas can be an effective method to help promote detoxification within the body. The elevated heat generated by a sauna induces sweating, a natural response that aims to control core body temperature. Sweating is also one of the ways in which the body naturally detoxifies itself, helping excrete toxic metals and fluids through the skin. Moreover, sauna induced heat has been shown to stimulate the body's lymphatic system, the system responsible for draining cellular waste, debris, excess fluids and toxins, therefore further aiding the removal of waste products.By harnessing the power of sauna-induced sweating and lymphatic stimulation, you can help support your body's detoxification processes, promoting overall health and wellness.

(4) Weight Loss and Calorie Burn

While relaxing in a sauna alone is not going to help you lose noticeable amounts of weight, studies indicate that saunas can be an effective supplementary tool when combined with regular physical activity and a balanced diet. Thanks to the heat generated by our saunas, your body has to work harder to maintain its core temperature, meaning the amount of energy you’re expending (the number of calories you’re burning) increases. For example, various energy expenditure calculators demonstrate that you can burn up to twice as many calories when sitting in a sauna for 15 minutes when compared to spending the same amount of time sitting watching TV!

How does using a sauna benefit skin health?

As well as improving your physical health and wellbeing, spending 15-30 minutes in a sauna a few times a week could also greatly improve the health and appearance of your skin, helping you achieve a refreshed and radiant complexion.

(1) Cleaning and Rejuvenation

Saunas can be an excellent tool for keeping your skin looking and feeling fresh. As your core body temperature rises due to the warmth and humility of a sauna, tiny openings located on the surface of the skin called pores begin to open, allowing sweat to be excreted and excess heat to be expelled from the body.As this occurs, any dirt, debris or impurities are pushed out of your pores, preventing build-up or blockages from occurring and therefore helping reduce the risk of blemishes, dullness or dryness from appearing on the surface of the skin.

(2) Prevention and Management of Skin Conditions

Studies indicate that the regular use of a sauna can be an effective tool in both the prevention and management of various skin conditions. As the pores open and sweat is excreted, any harmful oils, dirt, debris or bacteria that has accumulated within the pores are pushed out, helping prevent or reduce flare ups of conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis. Additionally, due to the heat-induced increases in blood and lymphatic circulation, your skin is nourished by higher amounts of oxygen and key nutrients, while cellular waste and excess fluids are more efficiently removed. This helps to prevent inflammation, blackheads and flare ups of eczema and acne.

(3) Enhanced Collagen Production

Collagen is a form of protein that serves as the primary building block for your skin, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and organs. Collagen is essential for the health of your skin, helping provide it with structure and support. Research indicates that the warmth of a relaxing sauna can actually stimulate collagen synthesis, the body’s natural process of creating collagen.Enhanced collagen synthesis can be extremely beneficial for both the health and appearance of your skin, helping improve skin moisture, hydration and elasticity whilst also reducing the risk of wrinkles and lines from appearing, helping give you a youthful and fresh complexion!

Conclusion

As well as providing you with a warm and inviting recluse from the stressors or day to day life, taking time to relax in an Arctic Cabins sauna cabin can be a powerful tool to help enhance your physical health and wellbeing. When utilised as part of a healthy lifestyle or self-care routine, the sauna can provide you with an array of health benefits, helping protect you from numerous chronic health conditions, boost your cardiovascular health, improve the health and complexion of your skin and even help you burn a few extra calories after a gym session, all of which can help you to thrive amidst the stress and pressures of day to day life.

The Arctic Cabins Difference

At Arctic Cabins, we design, manufacture and install our Arctic Cabins all over the UK, with our own skilled team of employees - a 'turn-key' project from start to finish. We are so confident that we offer a no-quibble 10-year manufacturer's guarantee giving you complete peace of mind.

Come and see our Arctic Cabins Sauna Cabin quality for yourself. Our show site in Nottingham is just a few minutes from J25 of the M1, you'll find us at many national home and garden shows and events throughout the year and you can call to find out more on 0115 932 8888.