The Difference Between Saunas and Steam Rooms
Sauna and steam room - both very similar, but slight differences offer unique health benefits. The biggest difference between both recovery techniques is that a sauna uses dry heat from hot rocks or stove, while steam rooms use steam from a generator with boiling water.
Steam Room Health Benefits
Workout recovery
Weāve all felt that muscle soreness after a workout. Itās common to feel the pain from DOMS, or delayed onset muscle soreness. Whether youāre an athlete or just went through a tough workout, DOMS are pretty normal. Steam rooms are a great tool in recovery because of the heat therapy. Heat can penetrate deep into muscle tissue and help relieve muscle soreness.
Improved circulation
Steam rooms help improve cardiovascular health. The moist heat improves circulation, and this leads to lowered blood pressure and even a healthier heart.
Lowers blood pressure
When sitting in a steam room, our bodies release a hormone that changes heart rate. Aldosterone, one of the hormones released, regulates blood pressure and can help lower high blood pressure. This is one of the reasons people report feeling more relaxed and at ease during their steam room experience.
Stress reduction
Speaking of feeling at ease, steam room can help regulate stress. Sitting in a steam room can decrease cortisol production. The hormone, cortisol, is what regulates your bodyās stress. Itās what causes that āaahhhhhā feeling while you relax in the warm steam. People also report feeling more focused and calmer after spending a few minutes in a steam room.
Clears congestion
One of the most popular uses of steam rooms is to help clear congestion. Steam is often used to help break down the mucous membrane inside your sinuses and lungs. Steam rooms are usually pretty effective in helping treat colds and sinus infections, or at least help with symptoms.
Workout recovery
Similar to how the steam room helps, heat helps with muscle recovery and avoiding that pain after leg day. With saunas and steam rooms, youāll mostly relax your muscles and ultimately feel better after a workout.
Stress reduction
If youāve ever sat in a sauna, youāll probably agree that you feel much better overall. Having a few moments to yourself in the warmth of a sauna can help ease your mind. Like steam rooms, your body decreases cortisol production which leads to better stress regulation.
Skin conditions
Saunas can have a positive effect on certain skin conditions, like psoriasis. Some people with psoriasis have found that regularly sitting in a dry sauna reduces their symptoms.
Improved cardiovascular health
Studies have shown that regularly using dry saunas could lower the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases. A study in Finland showed that participants who used the sauna two or three times a week were 22 percent less likely to experience sudden cardiac death versus people who only used it once a week, according to Medical News Today.Ā Additionally, the study found that people who used the sauna four to seven times a week were 63 percent less likely to experience cardiac death.
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