sweat

Sauna and Steam Baths – what are different health benefits?

The use of a steam room or sauna is a health practice with numerous health benefits. Saunas and the steam rooms are the rooms designed for the treatments with the use of heated air, which is of a temperature that varies between 800 and 1000 degrees of Celsius.

Difference between a sauna and a steam room?

Sauna air is heated by hot, porous rocks that emit a long-lasting heat. Because the humidity in a sauna is low, saunas are usually made of softwoods. In a steam room, the water vapor carries the heat. The wall construction is typically acrylic, tile, marble, or other stone. Steam rooms are much cooler than saunas although they often feel warmer.

Steam Bath Benefits

A steam room is an enclosed room which is made warm and humid by use of a heater and steam.
- they have high moisture content.
- the condensed moisture relieves pressure in the sinuses and lungs, which helps to counteract conditions such as asthma and allergies.
- steam baths or rooms give us relief from muscle soreness, relief from stiff joints, immune system enhancement, lymph detoxification, blood circulation improvement and sinus congestion relief.
- people with respiratory ailments often prefer the benefits of the steam room to those of the sauna.
- steam helps in the enhancing the speed and intensity of the metabolism of our body, in turn leading to weight loss.

Sauna Benefits

A sauna is a low humidity chamber that uses hot rocks (or even infrared rays) to create a high, dry heat.
- cleaning and detoxifying your skin.
- increases blood circulation.
- improves immunity system.
- sweating in sauna helps eliminate bacteria and viruses from inside your body.
- heart pumps harder which is an aerobic workout in itself.
- the heat also helps in stimulating production of white blood cells, exactly what your body needs to fight off illnesses.
- sauna bath has been proven to help in weight loss.

NOTE : One must be careful, since the excessive exposure to the hot air may cause some severe burns. Because of that, it is very advisable to take a lot of water, both, from the inside (by drinks) and from the outside.

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HEAT RASH…

HEAT RASH – Avoid that prickly heat

A Heat rash is a red or pink rash usually found on body areas covered with clothes. It develops when the sweat ducts become blocked and swell and often leads to discomfort and itching. Heat rash is most common in hot and humid climates.

Why is it caused?

The rash is caused by excessive perspiration, which damages cells on the surface of the skin. The damaged cells form a barrier that traps sweat beneath the skin. This moisture then builds up, causing red, itchy bumps. When these pimple-like bumps burst and the sweat is released, it causes a stinging, prickly feeling.

Treating Heat Rash

1. Keep the affected skin cool and dry.
2. Take a cool shower but do not use towel
3. Use talcum for instant relief.
4. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothes.
5. Avoid oil based ointments, lotions as it keeps skin warm and moist.
6. If you cannot make your way to a cool place and continue to sweat, do not use anti-perspirant deodorant, lotions or powder on the rash. They only trap more sweat.
7. Use a calamine solution.