The saunas are often mentioned as a natural remedy for colds, which a lot of people turn to when they fall ill.  Heat therapy appears to be a fine method of decongesting the body, relaxing, and healing.  Nevertheless, is a sauna good for a cold? It is a question that yet needs to be answered.

In this blog, the probability that sauna sitting can help in curing cold-related symptoms like fatigue, muscle aches, and stuffy noses will be discussed. We shall discuss the effects of Saunas on your body when you are sick and the conditions under which it can be helpful or harmful.

What Happens in the Body During a Cold

Your body will react to a cold by combating the virus, and it will produce the typical side effects of a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and, in some cases, a slight fever. Your immune system is on the go to ensure that the virus does not reach and spread, leading to the inflammation of your nose and throat. The body consumes additional energy to combat the infection, thus making one feel tired. 

The heat in a sauna is able to loosen your muscles, decongest, and give you a temporary solution. It is not a medicine that can cure the cold; however, it can aid in making you feel good as your body recovers.

How a Sauna Affects the Body

The following is a discussion on the impact of sitting in a sauna on your body’s core functions:

Gives You Better circulation

Heat causes your blood vessels to open (that is why your face is red during exercise), resulting in improved circulation. This helps recover by bringing blood flow to your muscles and organs quicker, supplying them with oxygen and nutrients quicker, thereby helping to recover.

Initiates Sweating

Saunas make you sweat a lot, and it helps in getting rid of the toxins and dirt on your skin and body. It is one of the natural ways of making the body cool.

Heats The Core

The heat gently increases your internal body temperature as if you have contracted a mild fever. This is able to stimulate your immune system, hence helping you fight against infections.

Pain Relief

Sauna is known to loosen up muscles and relieve body stiffness attributed to the heat, which may prove to be of much relief. It particularly holds true when your body has been suffering from some pains related to a cold.

Clears Congested Sinuses

The steam and warm air will open the nasal passages and soften the mucus to enable the user to breathe easier.

Eases Stress

The nervous system is calmed by saunas, and they also decrease stress levels – getting you into better sleep (which will help you heal better).

Does Sauna Help With Cold?

To some extent, saunas can relieve some of the symptoms of a cold in a short period. The humid air is a warm one that can open up the sinuses of your body, and you breathe easier when you are all plugged up. Hot water also relaxes the tight muscles, and this alleviates aches and stiffness that usually go hand in hand with colds.

The elevation of the body temperature caused by the sauna basically simulates a mild fever. This basic response could assist your body in working more efficiently through the enhancement of white blood cells’ activities, which contribute to resistance to viruses. Other specialists believe that this heat shot will reduce the time a cold takes or make the symptoms of the cold milder.

The literature on this topic is not so extensive, although the limited small studies performed are encouraging. Studies have also shown that the frequency of sauna use can reduce the risk of developing a common cold or shorten the period of recovery. But saunas are not a remedy–they usually make you feel better and make your body feel better.

The Relation of Saunas and Weight Loss

Can you lose weight in a sauna? The loss of weight that you notice after using a sauna is often temporary, and it mostly happens due to the loss of water. However, some scanty evidence points to the fact that the accelerated heart rate stimulated by saunas can aid in burning more calories. Here’s what the research says:

Loss of Water Weight

A sauna heats your body to approximately 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), making you sweat and hence weight loss.

The extent of body mass reduction is usually linked to body mass index (BMI). Individuals who have a higher BMI are likely to lose more body mass by using a sauna compared to those with a lower BMI.

In one study, women with a BMI of 25 or more (defined as overweight) lost two times the percentage of body mass than those with a BMI of 18.5 or less (defined as underweight) did. The same findings were realized in men. Scientists think it is because of the exposure of a larger body surface area, which can facilitate more sweating.

Burning The Calories

Although the bulk of the instant weight loss that you experience with the help of a sauna is associated with water loss, saunas can actually lead to your body burning up, which can also be helpful in your permanent weight management strategy.

The researchers observed that the heart rates of the people were raised in the sauna, which assists the body in burning calories. The change in heart rate might happen because when using a sauna, your body may simulate what it does during exercise.

Benefits of Sauna for Skin

Is the sauna good for your skin? Saunas have been used as a natural and non-invasive method to attain healthier and glowing skin through detoxification and better circulation. The following are some of the ways the saunas are thought to assist people in acquiring improved skin:

• Sweating
• Detoxification
• Acne reduction
• Weight loss
• Better blood circulation
• Collagen production
• Sounder sleep

Risks and Precautions for Sick Individuals

Although saunas can be very helpful in overcoming a mild cold, they may not be safe to use when you are not well physically. You should not go to the sauna with a high fever. The heat may raise your body temperature even more, which will result in you feeling worse and even the risk of overheating.

Then there’s dehydration. Colds can often dry you out, and sweating in a sauna can make things worse. In case you already feel weak or dizzy or have a headache, do not go to the sauna; just focus on rest and fluids.

When sick, people should consult their physician before using a steam room due to medical conditions such as heart risks, low blood pressure, and breathing problems, among others. It is always good to consult before you make decisions.

Conclusion

To answer the question “Will a sauna help with a cold?”, it will allow you to feel better and will help you return to regular activity sooner. All you need to do is listen to your body, hydrate yourself, and not overwork it. Better safe than sorry, and you should always consult a physician before stepping into one when facing health problems.

Get in touch with All Star Construction now to schedule a modern or traditional sauna installation of your choice.

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