It has long been noticed that the bathhouse has a healing effect on the human systemic organs. The steam room helps get rid of all kinds of symptomatic manifestations, serious diseases of the respiratory, blood, endocrine systems, and skin. People often ask questions about how the bath affects various organs and what healing effect it has.
The steam room helps to get rid of all kinds of symptomatic manifestations, serious diseases of the respiratory, blood, endocrine systems, and skin.
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the First St. Petersburg State University. I.P. Pavlova, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Areg Artemovich Totolyan.
Editor: Hello, Areg Artyomovich! Everyone knows that steaming in a bathhouse has a general strengthening effect, but how does a bathhouse affect human health from a medical point of view?
A. A. Totolyan: Hello, dear readers! Indeed, the Russian bathhouse has a long history and traditions. What could be more wonderful than taking a steam bath with a birch or oak broom, and then drinking aromatic tea, after which you feel healthy and full of energy. But, as they say, everything should be in moderation. There are a number of restrictions.
Vaping promotes the leaching of a large number of beneficial microelements through the skin pores, which is simply dangerous for some people.
Attention! First of all, the bath is not recommended for those who have diseases of the cardiovascular system, hypertensive patients, patients of endocrinology clinics, and people over 75 years old.
We should not forget that vaping promotes the leaching of a large number of beneficial microelements through the skin pores, which is simply dangerous for some people.
The effect of hot air on the human body
Active sweating begins at ambient temperatures above 37°C. This process protects the human body from overheating. The higher the temperature in the steam room, the more sweat comes out through the skin pores. Intensive activation of blood circulation makes it possible to additionally supply all human vital organs with portions of blood. How does the bath affect the human body in this case? Such an action can both improve the health of the steamer and cause significant harm to him. It all depends on your general physical condition, age and gender.
Editor: Let's take a closer look at how a bathhouse affects the body of an adult, man or woman. In what cases should visiting the steam room be limited, and in what cases is it simply necessary?
The first entry into the sauna should not exceed 10-15 minutes for experienced steamers, and for beginners who like to steam, only 5-7 minutes is enough
A. A. Totolyan: Okay, let's decide how the bath affects blood pressure? First of all, you should know that high blood pressure (BP) is above 140 per 90 mm Hg. Art. For beginner hypertensive patients, bath procedures reduce blood pressure, and if the blood pressure is critical, steaming in a bath is strictly prohibited. Any experienced steamer will tell you that before entering the steam room, certain conditions must be met:
- Before the steam room, you should take a warm shower without getting your head wet;
- The first entry into the bath should not exceed 10-15 minutes for experienced steamers, and for beginners who like to steam, only 5-7 minutes are enough.
Bathing should be fun. First, you should lie down on the bottom shelf, then get out and do a light massage, then repeat everything for another 10-15 minutes. Since the bath affects blood vessels, such an addiction to the heat will be as gentle and safe as possible for the body.
According to Japanese scientists, visiting a sauna is beneficial for people with heart failure
Editor: Areg Artemovich, you touched on the topic of blood vessels. How does a bath affect the blood?
A. A. Totolyan: The effect of the bath on blood circulation depends on the set temperature. The higher the temperature in the steam room, the greater the volume of blood emitted, which leads to increased work of the heart muscles and blood vessels. Is sauna good for the heart? Scientists around the world are arguing about this, as well as how the bath affects pregnancy. There is still no clear solution, although the work of Japanese scientists led by Takashi Ohiro from Toyama University suggests that visiting a sauna is beneficial for people with heart failure. However, Japanese scientists do not provide supporting reports on the effect of the Russian steam room on the human heart.
Attention! Sick people with heart pathologies should not get carried away by long stays in the bathhouse and/or sauna. Pregnant women should not engage in steam treatments.
Man vs swimsuit
When going to a public sauna in a new country or even in a new company, every person again and again faces a piquant question: are separate or shared saunas for men and women accepted here, and is it necessary to wear a bathing suit in the second case? For example, contrary to popular belief, in Scandinavia men and women most often enjoy the sauna separately. In some areas of Germany, on the contrary, it is not customary to be ashamed of the naked body in any company, because hygiene procedures, by definition, are not of an intimate nature. Today you can completely rid yourself of such doubts with the help of a personal sauna, in which the rules of behavior are determined only by you. As well as temperature, humidity, duration and frequency of procedures. This became possible thanks to the invention of a special electric heating element. The origins of the invention were Swedish businessman Sven-Olof Jansen, who since 1941 has been producing resistances and heaters for irons, toasters, electric stoves and heaters. One day, the Finnish consul, who was visiting the city of Halmstad, asked Jansen if it was possible to use an electric heater in a sauna instead of conventional wood-burning stoves. Thus was born the Tylo company, which today remains the only manufacturer of electric sauna stoves with heating elements of its own production.
The adrenal glands, on the contrary, are activated, as under the influence of any stressor, causing the concentration of adrenaline and norepinephrine in the blood to increase, and a paradoxical feeling of relaxation and vigor appears in the soul. The bronchi expand, the frequency and depth of breathing increase, which additionally activates heat transfer and compensates for the lack of oxygen in the brain. But the effect of hot air on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract reflexively enhances changes in the cardiovascular system. Muscles relax due to relaxation of the central nervous system, increased blood supply and increased local temperature. Massage - manual or with the help of “young rods” - helps to further relax them. At the same time, the movement of air accelerates its heat-insulating layer at the surface of the body, and for the one who waves a broom, it also increases overheating of the body due to the release of heat during muscle work.
The science
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The “correct” bathhouse for expectant mothers
Does a bath affect conception? This question is often asked in gynecological consultations. There are various restrictions under which women are strictly prohibited from visiting saunas and baths. In addition to acute and chronic diseases, for which the fair half of humanity is prohibited from steaming, there are other reasons:
- increased blood or intracranial pressure;
- inflammatory pathologies in the pelvic area;
- menstrual period;
- complications caused by pregnancy.
In case of inflammatory pathologies in the pelvic area, visiting the bathhouse is contraindicated.
In order for the pregnancy to be successful, a woman should be careful about steam rooms, since the bathhouse affects conception. Why is this so, and what should women consider?
The first stage of the menstrual period is characterized by the maturation of the egg. This requires a comfortable temperature regime, which is determined by the indicators characteristic of a given period, which is at a lower level compared to the average temperature of the cycle. The middle phase is the period of ovulation, when the egg is ready for fertilization. Exposure to high temperatures can prevent the egg from fully releasing from the follicle. In addition, heat exposure can stimulate premature ovulation, which is also undesirable for a healthy body. However, the most unpleasant thing about how a bath affects the conception of a child is overheating after fertilization.
Exposure to high temperatures can prevent the egg from fully releasing from the follicle
ATTENTION! The high concentration of hot air in the steam room contributes to a negative impact on the vital functions and development of the fertilized egg, and this can lead to miscarriage at the beginning of pregnancy.
Editor: Areg Artyomovich! After all, not only the woman is involved in pregnancy planning. How does a bath affect conception in men?
A. A. Totolyan: If we define pregnancy planning, then it is the steam room that can cause the main threat to the male body, since the bathhouse affects potency. Despite all the usefulness of bath procedures, this is perhaps the most negative point. The normal functioning of the testicles depends on the comfort of the temperature, which should be about 33°C. I would like to dwell on this point in more detail and understand how the bath affects testosterone and gonadotropin.
Warming up all the elements
A modern sauna is a technically complex structure, the design and assembly of which is best left to professionals.
At the Tylo factory we were able to observe the sauna production process from start to finish. A good cabin starts with good wood. High-quality spruce, aspen, and North American alder are materials that, on the one hand, can withstand severe temperature fluctuations in a sauna, and on the other hand, do not cause harm in direct contact with the skin. To prevent the whole house from turning into a sauna, the cabin requires mineral fiber insulation in all walls, floors and ceilings. At the same time, it needs a well-thought-out ventilation system. Special sealed doors, safety heat-resistant glass, thoughtful relaxing lighting plus exquisite build quality - the buyer purchases all this in a single package with the cabin. All that remains is to install it in any convenient corner of the house and put the stove inside... There are no boundaries for modern technology. Now you can conquer the mighty sea element while sitting in a sauna. The floating conference hall SeaLounge, which is based near one of the picturesque archipelagos of Stockholm, is equipped with a banquet hall, a jacuzzi, a bar and a sauna, and instead of a pool, after taking warming treatments you can plunge straight into the sea. When designing a sauna with an area of 10 square meters, Tylo specialists took into account not only the size and energy potential of the boat, but also the opportunity to enjoy beautiful views from the ship. The source of searing heat at SeaLounge is the Tylo Mega EP 100 stove. Other unusual projects of the company include a sauna in the radio and television studio from which live broadcasts were broadcast, as well as an ice sauna in the famous IceHotel. This summer, Tylo plans to complete the construction of an underwater sauna, where visitors will be able to enjoy deep-sea views while undergoing wellness treatments. The most important misconception about the bath is that it will “fix everything” in case of acute diseases or exacerbation of chronic diseases. In fact, in case of acute inflammatory processes - be it a cold or radiculitis - a bathhouse will not cure, but rather harm. Wait until the acute phase of the disease passes, and go to the bathhouse with residual effects or with chronic (in remission) manifestations of a variety of ailments, and very preferably - after consulting a doctor.
In terms of intensity of impact on the body, a steam room is approximately the same as running. This is an excellent means of hardening and general health, but only for a more or less healthy person and with gradual adaptation to the load. For the treatment of many different diseases, thermal effects are also indicated, but it is necessary to increase the load gradually and use this powerful method of physiotherapy only in the absence of obvious contraindications. We will not give a list of them “on eight sheets”: if in doubt, ask a doctor. A bathhouse will fix everything - or almost everything, but only if you use it wisely.
Benefit for health
The Russian bath has one valuable quality that is unique to it, the so-called “heat shock,” which increases the healing effect several times.
- Strengthen metabolism, accelerate water-salt metabolism. The skin produces a lot of sweat, along with which toxins and waste come out of the cells. Thanks to this cleansing, the work of the kidneys is facilitated.
- Accelerate blood flow, improve blood supply to the upper and lower extremities, heart, lungs, and brain.
- Increases immunity and the body's resistance to natural temperature changes during the changing seasons.
- Accelerate the restoration of cells and tissues. Muscle spasms and cramps go away, and the condition of patients with arthritis and rheumatism improves.
- Effective in the treatment of respiratory organs. Under the influence of high temperatures, sputum quickly disappears, and the duration of illness is reduced.
- Relieve fatigue, give vigor, increase overall tone.
Repeated heating of the body, alternating with dousing with cool water is an excellent exercise for blood vessels, preventing sclerotic lesions.
Preventive actions
Bath procedures do not relieve atherosclerosis and do not worsen the patient’s condition
Is it possible to go to the bathhouse? You need to ask a doctor. It takes into account the patient’s condition, the degree of atherosclerosis and other factors. If he allows you to enjoy bath procedures, it is important to follow the rules for visiting the bath.
- Before visiting the bathhouse, measure your blood pressure. If it is high, it is better to abandon your plans and stay at home, taking medications prescribed for hypertension.
- In a steam room, the procedure should not last long, a few minutes, after which it is advised to rest for ten minutes. Get used to the steam room gradually, increasing the time you stay.
- It is better to visit a dry bath, because high humidity can cause a surge in pressure.
- It is good if oxygen is supplied to the steam room along with hot air. At the very least, it should have good ventilation, which is especially important for hypertensive patients.
- During a bath, a person loses a lot of fluid, so after it it is advised to drink several glasses of tea without sugar or water.
- Do not visit the bathhouse if there are no other people at home, because in case of complications there is no one to help.
- Do not visit the sauna on a full or empty stomach, or if you are very tired or feel unwell.
Atherosclerosis of the blood vessels of the legs and bath procedures are combined only at the first stage of the disease and are not a fight against it, but a prevention of its development.
Contraindications
The bathhouse is not useful for everyone and not always. Increased blood pressure, body temperature, increased heart rate - a heavy load on the cardiovascular system.
If the blood vessels are healthy, such training will certainly benefit them. But if the veins, arteries, capillaries are inelastic, the heart cannot cope with the increased loads, visiting the bathhouse can cause life-threatening complications.
If you have high cholesterol, stage I atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, or an increased risk of heart disease, visiting a bathhouse can be beneficial.
If there are diseases such as: neurocirculatory dystonia, atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels, stage I coronary arteries, stage I hypertension, bath procedures are acceptable. However, high temperatures, dousing with cold water, and a swimming pool after a steam room will have to be excluded.
Visiting a bathhouse or steam room is prohibited in the following cases:
- arterial hypertension II-III degree;
- atherosclerosis of the vessels of the aorta, brain, coronary arteries, stage II-III;
- obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower extremities;
- inflammatory lesions of the heart muscle: myocarditis, pericarditis, endocarditis;
- inflammation of the coronary vessels (coronaritis);
- cardiac ischemia;
- angina pectoris;
- chronic heart failure;
- previous myocardial infarction;
- anemia;
- bronchial, cardiac asthma;
- pregnancy;
- viral, bacterial infections;
- fungal diseases;
- dermatitis, eczema.
Before your first visit to the bathhouse, it is recommended to examine your cardiovascular system. This is especially necessary for older people, those who already suffer from chronic diseases.
Periodic visits to the bathhouse are a good prevention of atherosclerosis. However, the therapeutic effect is possible only when combined with a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition.
What are the benefits of baths and saunas?
Skin condition
Bath procedures have a beneficial effect on all skin types: dry skin becomes elastic and soft, and too oily skin becomes dry. After sudden weight loss or recent pregnancy, they help quickly restore the body's elasticity and pleasant color.
Under the influence of heat, the pores open, they are cleansed of dirt, toxins, sweat, and a layer of dead cells. Also, thermal baths normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands, which prevents the premature appearance of wrinkles.
Fighting bacteria and viruses
After 15 minutes of staying in a Russian bath, body temperature rises to 38-41 °C. Subcutaneous tissues and muscles are heated by 0.5-1.5 °C. Under such conditions, metabolism is significantly accelerated, the production of lymphocytes and interferon (antiviral protein) is activated. Thanks to this, most bacteria and harmful microorganisms die, and the growth of malignant cells slows down.
The effect of the bath on the nervous system
The bath also has a positive effect on the nervous system: a rush of blood to the surface of the epidermis temporarily reduces blood flow to the brain. As a result of this process, mental stress is relieved and general relaxation of the body occurs. In some cases, the bath acts as a stimulant. This happens when the load on the body is uneven. For this reason, it is important to set your bathing routine correctly.
