Introduction
Infrared saunas are becoming a popular way to relax, said to bring a range of health benefits. Can it also help with a cold? There’s limited scientific evidence. However, some people think they may provide mild relief.
The heat from the sauna can soothe muscles, loosen blocked nasal passages, and open pores for easier breathing. It’s suggested this heat can trigger natural healing responses within cells, reducing congestion and maybe boosting immunity. More research is needed to know for sure.
An infrared sauna could be worth trying if you’re looking for mild cold relief with a possible immune boost.
What is an Infrared Sauna?
An infrared sauna is not like a classic steam sauna. Instead, it uses light to make your body hot, heating up faster than usual, reaching a temperature of 140°F. It may also be better for health than a traditional sauna.
Infrared saunas use far-infrared heat, which penetrates deeper than other forms of heat. It can give you improved circulation, more oxygen in your cells, better immunity, muscle and joint relief, detoxification, and the potential to lose weight. Additionally, infrared heat therapy has been used traditionally to help with cold symptoms. It improves blood circulation and opens the lungs, so the body can easily eliminate toxins caused by colds or other viral infections.
Benefits of Infrared Sauna
Infrared saunas are gaining fame in the world of health and wellness. Infrared light is used to warm your body from the inside during a session. It can help lessen symptoms related to the common cold.
Let’s look at the various advantages of infrared saunas for curing a cold:
Detoxification
An infrared sauna has some great advantages. Sweating expels toxins like heavy metals and fat-storing ones. It helps reduce inflammation and cleans skin and organs. It also enhances cardiovascular health. Furthermore, this boosts the body’s capacity to process drugs and supplements and diminishes the possibility of various long-term diseases.
- Sweating expels toxins like heavy metals and fat-storing ones.
- Reduces inflammation and cleans skin and organs.
- Enhances cardiovascular health.
- It boosts the body’s capacity to process drugs and supplements.
- Diminishes the possibility of various long-term diseases.
Pain Relief
Infrared sauna therapy can aid in pain relief. It radiates deep into your body, focusing on hurt areas. It improves circulation, which reduces swelling and relaxes muscles. It may even decrease your recovery time for some injuries. Plus, it treats inflammation from arthritis and other long-term illnesses.
The heat eases tension and stiffness, making your joints move better. Furthermore, regular use of an infrared sauna can help with the emotional burden of chronic pain. You can relax and de-stress during sauna sessions.
Stress Relief
Infrared saunas emit low-level heat – perfect for relaxation. It can help those with stress, anxiety, and fatigue. In a session, the heart rate rises, with increased circulation. It brings a sense of calm. Cortisol levels may be reduced, a hormone tied to addiction and mental health. It can lead to improved energy, sleep, and reduced depression signs. Serotonin levels, the neurotransmitter in charge of mood, may also be positively impacted.
Infrared saunas also encourage physical activity and better mental clarity. In addition, temperature regulation calms the mind, allowing one to perform activities better than when feeling exhausted or overwhelmed.
Improved Circulation
Infrared saunas are great for improving circulation. The heat expands your blood vessels, helping to balance blood pressure. They also reduce muscle tension and can be used to treat chronic pain. In addition, improved blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients to sore muscles, helping them heal faster and reducing inflammation.
Regular use of an infrared sauna is great for those with chronic fatigue syndrome, as it increases energy levels.
Improved Skin Health
Infrared saunas can enhance skin health! Two healing fronts are triggered by using thermal radiation to penetrate the deepest layers of skin and therapeutic heat to open pores. First, mild, controlled heat boosts blood flow, helping the body to detoxify naturally. Infrared energy also stimulates collagen production and cell renewal, lessening wrinkles and supporting skin health.
Athletes may find such advantages beneficial for maximizing performance – a robust immune system is key for peak conditioning.
Can an Infrared Sauna Help a Cold?
Infrared sauna therapy is a popular form of cold relief. It uses far infrared light to generate deep heat, making the body sweat. This sweat helps to reduce cold symptoms and also strengthens the immune system. Recovery time is sped up too!
In this article, we’ll analyze how infrared sauna therapy can assist with a cold and its other health benefits:
Immune System Boost
Infrared saunas have a significant advantage when it comes to the cold. They can stimulate the production of white blood cells, vital for combating infection and viruses. Silver ions in the air also work to boost immunity. Infrared heat increases circulation, giving white blood cells more access to fight off bacteria or viruses. In addition, sweating helps flush out toxins, which can help speed up recovery and promote better health.
Improved Respiratory Function
An infrared sauna may help those with colds. It can improve respiratory function. People with colds often struggle to breathe. Heat and humidity can clear out congestion and improve breathing. It allows oxygen to enter the lungs. It can reduce coughing, sinus pressure, and nasal congestion. The increased oxygen flow can help you feel energized. It can help you recover faster than without the help of an infrared sauna session.
Increased Sweating
Infrared saunas may aid in relieving the side effects of common colds. The heat from this sauna raises your body temperature, creating a fever-like effect. This fever kills bacteria and viruses, reducing inflammation that leads to symptoms like headaches and sore throat. Sweating in a sauna also flushes out toxins and excess fluid, which helps treat colds.
Research on its effectiveness for colds is limited. However, doctors suggest taking an infrared sauna session when symptoms start. Normal hot saunas aren’t recommended because they’re too harsh. Infrared saunas are gentler as they don’t raise body temperature as much as traditional steam-type saunas.
Safety Considerations
Trying an infrared sauna for cold symptoms? Remember to take safety precautions! Infrared saunas can help your body detox and improve circulation, but they can also cause your body temperature to increase quickly and strain your heart and other organs. People with high blood pressure, heart disease, or any other serious medical condition should not use this for cold relief and should check with their doctor first.
Be aware that some people may exaggerate their illnesses, especially in the cold season. Fever is a sign of infection, not a cold symptom. If you think that fever-related issues like dehydration are progressing, contact your doctor at once for instructions before using an infrared sauna.
Also, use the infrared sauna properly to stay safe and make the most of it:
- Start sessions slowly and check the temperature regularly with your hand.
- Use plenty of water when showering after your session.
- Do not stay in the sauna for more than 15-20 minutes, even if attempting to control fever. It could lead to dizziness or severe dehydration if not done correctly or without proper hydration post-session.
Conclusion
An infrared sauna can treat a cold. It’s medically backed. It decreases mucous and sinus congestion and kills the germ causing the cold. Plus, fatigue, breathing issues, and muscle soreness accompanying the cold can be relieved.
Before using it to treat cold symptoms, check with your healthcare provider or medical expert. Make sure there are no negative side effects or adverse effects on existing conditions.