Sauna & Health

Soothing warmth and relaxing peace and quiet make time-outs in the Sauna a real source of strength for body and mind. The health effects are manifold: If you regularly take time to visit the sauna, you train your heart and circulation, strengthen your immune system and stimulate your metabolism, among other things.

Controlled sweating, gentle cooling and soothing rest: it's all in the mix! While the skin temperature increases by about 10 degrees and the core body temperature by about two degrees within a short time during the sauna bath, the entire metabolism is stimulated. The vessels dilate, blood pressure and heart rate drop. After about 8 to 15 minutes of sweating, cooling down follows. Outdoors, you breathe in the cool air evenly, under the cold shower or in the plunge pool, the vessels constrict again and the blood pressure normalizes. The subsequent recovery phase also contributes to the vitalization of the body.

• Cardiovascular training & stimulation of blood circulation
  During the sauna bath, the vessels dilate and the blood flows faster and better. When cooling, the vessels contract again. This prevents circulatory disorders and reduces the risk of thrombosis. In addition, a visit to the sauna has a similar training effect to a light workout, so that the body's performance also improves.
• Strengthening the body's own defenses
  The immune system is stimulated by the rise in body temperature to produce more antibodies. Regular visits to the sauna can prevent infections.
• Fresh, clear complexion and slowing down skin aging
  Due to the better blood circulation of the skin, it looks fresh and rosy. When sweating, the pores also open and they are cleaned. Tip: Be sure to pay attention to the right care for your skin. Regular sauna use also has a mitigating effect on non-contagious skin diseases such as neurodermatitis or psoriasis.
• Reduce high blood pressure in the sauna
  The heat in the sauna dilates the blood vessels and the heart beats faster and stronger. It is better supplied with oxygen and nutrients, the heart muscle is relieved. During cooling, the vessels contract again. This heart and vascular training has a long-term supportive effect on high blood pressure.
• Relief from asthma and other respiratory diseases
  During sauna bathing, the blood circulation in the mucous membranes improves, so that the secretion of respiratory secretions is supported. The warmth of the sauna is particularly beneficial for asthma or chronic bronchitis, as the bronchi relax and the production of mucus and the secretion of secretions are promoted.
• Detoxification of the body, removal of harmful substances
  In the sauna, the body sweats to cool down. In the process, waste and waste products are also washed out. In addition, pollutants are increasingly released into the blood. These substances are eventually excreted in the urine. In this way, the purification of the body is supported.
• Relaxation of the muscles
  During the sauna bath, the muscles relax and tension can be released. This is particularly recommended as a cool-down after sports training: the muscles are thus well supplied with blood. The body also prevents the muscles from becoming over-acidified by sweating. However, a normal heart rate is a prerequisite for the sauna bath after exercise. So plan a longer break in between and drink enough to balance the fluid balance. Another positive effect: Breathing deeply is also easier due to the muscle-relaxing effect of the sauna session, because it increases the capacity of the lungs.
• Alleviate rheumatism
  Skin, muscles, joints and tendons are heated in the sauna, and this heat generally has a positive effect on rheumatic diseases. However, cooling down should be done particularly carefully here. Whether and how sauna baths are possible and useful for acute inflammatory rheumatic diseases is best discussed in advance with the attending physician.

Attention: A visit to the sauna does not replace medical advice. If you have any pre-existing conditions, please always consult a doctor to make sure that you are not harming your body with the sauna. You can also only achieve health effects through regular sauna visits. It is recommended to visit the sauna at least once a week with about two to three rounds.

Sauna bathing is initially harmless and sensible for healthy pregnant women, as water retention can be reduced and the muscles can relax well. Nevertheless, special caution applies under certain circumstances: Only those who were already taking a sauna regularly before pregnancy should sweat in the sauna while pregnant. If you are unsure or have no experience with sweating cures, you should refrain from visiting the sauna, especially during the first three months of pregnancy. During this time, the unborn child is particularly sensitive to external influences. Caution is also advised shortly before delivery: Then the body reacts very sensitively to heat, the heat can trigger premature labor. In general, the following applies to pregnant women: Please consult your treating gynaecologist before visiting the sauna. After giving birth, women can relax in the sauna again as soon as the postpartum flow has subsided.

Anyone who is acutely ill and suffers from a cold or a viral infection, for example, should not go to the sauna. Cure yourself carefully, otherwise the symptoms may worsen. The change in heat and cold can significantly weaken the body.

Under certain circumstances, a visit to the sauna can be dangerous. These are some risks for which you should definitely seek medical advice:

• acute flu-like illnesses, fever
• acute heart disease
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Severe circulatory disorders
• Open wounds (this also includes tattoos or piercings)
• Lymphedema
• open legs
• Hyperthyroidism
• Multiple sclerosis
• immediately after childbirth
• immediately after dental surgery (wisdom tooth surgery)
• fresh scars, for example after a caesarean section or breast surgery