Steam has historically been used for a wide variety of tasks. Whether it's powering machines, cooking food or cleaning surfaces, we've discovered the powerful benefits of using steam in our daily lives.
In many cultures, steaming is also a social ritual that helps you relax and connect with other people. But the potential benefits of a steam bath go beyond rest and relaxation. It can provide wellness benefits in many ways, including promoting improved circulation, stress reduction, and clearer skin.
A post-workout steam shower aids muscle recovery and soothes sore muscles while allowing you to relax. It improves blood circulation, detoxifies the skin, and can relieve the respiratory system's need to breathe better.
In this blog, we'll walk you through all the benefits of using a steam room and why you should do it, along with a few drawbacks you should look out for.
Table Of Contents
- What Is A Steam Bath?
- Can We Take A Steam Bath Daily? How Long Should It Be?
- Is A Steam Bath Good For You? 8 Amazing Benefits Of Taking A Steam Bath
- What Are The Disadvantages of A Steam Bath?
- Dietitian’s Recommendation
- The Final Say
- FAQs
- References
What Is A Steam Room Bath?
A steam bath is a therapeutic treatment involving sitting in a room filled with hot, humid air created by steam. The heat and moisture relax muscles, open pores, and promote sweating, which can aid in detoxification and improve skin health. A steam bath is typically taken in a steam room, which is an enclosed space that is filled with hot, humid air. The air temperature in the steam chamber may vary from 43°C to 48°C while the humidity is maintained at 100%. This combination of high heat and humidity helps people relax and detoxify the body.
When someone enters a steam room, they begin to sweat as their body adjusts to the higher temperatures. When your body sweats, it releases toxins through your pores, which helps cleanse your skin and improve circulation throughout your body.
This process also opens up the airways, making it easier for you to breathe deeply in a relaxed state. This increased heat also soothes sore muscles after exercise by improving blood flow and relaxing tight muscles.
Also Read: 7 Benefits Of Cardiovascular Exercise To Improve Your Heart Health & Fitness!
Can We Take A Steam Bath Daily? How Long Should It Be?
Yes, you can take a steam bath daily if you are generally healthy. However, it is important to limit your time in the steam room to 10-20 minutes to avoid overheating and dehydration.
A healthy person taking regular steam baths poses no health risks. The danger lurking in the shadows is when extenuating medical circumstances can affect these steam baths. For example, people with heart disease should be cautious about using a steam room because of the added stress it presents. This doesn't mean they shouldn't use steam rooms; they just need to be careful when doing so. The key in these medical cases is consulting a doctor, who gives them the proper guidance regarding the activities a patient can or cannot do.
It's best to limit steam bath sessions to 10-20 minutes for everyone. Staying longer than this can lead to overheating or dehydration. If you feel dizzy or uncomfortable, you should leave the steam room right away. After your session, it's also a good idea to cool down for about 20 minutes to help your body adjust.
Also Read: 10 Cold Shower Benefits for Health & Recovery | ToneOpFit
Is A Steam Bath Good For You? 8 Amazing Benefits Of Taking A Steam Bath
Here are the benefits of taking a steam bath:
1. Post-Workout Regeneration
Exercising causes micro-tears and a build-up of lactic acid in the muscles. A steam bath after a workout session can help you recover faster! Taking a steam promotes relaxation and helps your tired muscles feel strengthened. The heat from the steam room also improves blood flow, helping to bring oxygen-rich blood to the cells and flush out lactic acid from the muscles.
2. Cleanses And Hydrates The Skin
In addition to regular washing, moisturising and sunscreen, another effective method to cleanse and hydrate your skin is by regularly using a steam bath. Steam baths opens up clogged pores and removes all impurities, helping you cleanse the skin. To maximise your results, use a deep face wash after sitting in the steam room for a thorough cleanse. Steam baths are much more hydrating for your skin than saunas.
3. Helps In Weight Loss
A steam bath is a great fitness tip for weight loss. It can aid in weight loss by promoting sweating, which temporarily removes water weight from the body. While it doesn't directly burn fat, the increased circulation and detoxification process can support overall wellness. However, any weight loss from a steam bath is typically temporary and should be combined with proper diet and exercise for lasting results.
4. Natural Detoxification
Sweating is the body's natural way of flushing out toxins, which is promoted by steam baths. Spending just 10 minutes in a steam room can help your body flush out toxins by artificially inducing hyperthermia (the opposite of hypothermia). This means that your body temperature rises above normal levels, resulting in rapid sweating.
Microorganisms would not survive if the host's body temperature rose above a typical threshold. This makes it easy for your body to flush them out. Therefore, detoxifying the body using a steam bath is an effective and efficient detox solution.
5. Relieves Muscle Pain
Whether you suffer from chronic joint/muscle pain or have muscle soreness after exercise, a post-workout steam bath session can help relieve muscle pain by increasing blood flow and relaxing tense muscles. The heat from the steam promotes circulation, which aids in delivering oxygen and nutrients to sore muscles, promoting quicker recovery.
Additionally, the warmth of a steam bath can reduce stiffness and inflammation, providing relief from muscle tension, soreness, and even chronic pain conditions.
6. Mental Health And Stress Relief
There is evidence that steam baths can improve mental health and relieve stress by promoting relaxation and calming the mind. The warm, humid environment in a steam room bath can reduce muscle tension and even lower one's cortisol levels, which are associated with stress. The soothing heat also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural mood boosters, creating a sense of well-being. Regular use of steam baths can help reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and support overall emotional balance.
Also Read: 5 Mental Health Exercises To Boost Concentration Levels And Brain Functioning
7. Relieves Pressure From The Sinus Cavity
With a common cold or allergy, you can expect inflammation and irritation of the mucous membrane in the nose. This is because your body increases mucus production to stop an infection or irritation. Unfortunately, this can result in severe congestion and pressure in the sinuses.
Fortunately, the moist environment of a steam bath can help loosen mucous clogging your sinuses and nasal passages. It may help provide temporary relief. For this to be effective, you need to tilt your head up and take long, deep breaths through your nose. Then, exhale through your mouth.
8. Improves Blood Circulation
A steam bath improves one's blood circulation by increasing the body's temperature, which causes blood vessels to dilate. This dilation enhances blood flow, allowing oxygen and nutrients to reach tissues more effectively. As a result, circulation is improved, promoting faster healing, reducing inflammation, and supporting overall cardiovascular health.
What Are The Disadvantages of A Steam Bath?
Due to the temperature of a steam bath, dehydration can occur, especially if you use it after a workout. To prevent this, simply make sure you drink plenty of water before, during and after using the steam shower. Here are all the disadvantages of using a steam bath:
1. Increases Body Temperature
A steam bath raises body temperature to a level that can increase the risk of health problems. The temperature in the steam can rise almost to a level that may no longer be comfortable and healthy for your body. It could cause terrible sweating more than your body can and cause muscle weakness and pain.
2. Increases The Risk Of Vascular Problems
The temperature in a steam room can actually raise your heart rate within 10 minutes, which could be very problematic. This could increase the chances of vascular implications and the chances of blood flow in the skin.
3. Increases The Likelihood Of Germs
A warm environment is beneficial for the growth of bacteria, and a steam bath can provide a platform for the growth of bacterial infections and viral infections.
4. Dehydration
Steam baths can also cause dehydration, as the temperature is higher than healthy and releases excess sweat from your body. Steam can also cause people to pass out under certain conditions.
5. Chronic Illness
Steam baths can increase your chances of chronic disease. This is because diseases like fibromyalgia affect a person at a high rate at this temperature. People with asthma and a persistent cough may also have problems that can lead them to become chronically ill.
Dietitian’s Recommendation
While regular use of a steam room can offer many health benefits, it is better to use steam therapy several times a week rather than every day. Keep in mind: always follow the rules of the steam room to avoid any problems. Bring a bottle of cold water with you to stay hydrated during your steam session.
Dt. Lavina Chauhan
The Final Say
Steam baths offer many health benefits for the joints, circulation, skin and sinuses with the use of high heat and humidity to relax muscles and calm nerves. However, steam baths are not without risk. Users should be aware of possible bacteria and mould that can thrive in a warm, moist environment. Always wear shoes in the steam room. It's also important to stay hydrated while taking certain medications and avoid the heat of saunas and steam rooms.
FAQs
1. Is it safe to use a steam room after exercise?
Yes, a steam bath is safe after exercise as long as you follow the necessary precautions. Make sure you stay hydrated, listen to your body and don't overdo it when it comes to steam time.
2. Can I lose weight using a steam bath?
Using a steam room can help you lose weight by encouraging your body to sweat and burn calories. It is important to note that steam baths should be considered a supplement to an overall healthy lifestyle and diet; it is not a substitute for regular exercise or proper nutrition.
References
- https://www.onlymyhealth.com/demerits-of-taking-steam-bath-1638362191
- https://neptunesaunas.com/blog/health-benefits-sauna-after-workout/?srsltid=AfmBOoq6wd2OpK0RX6OBYeY56aH27qdtguJon9hHHKrYCGg6BDQvK_Ug
- https://circledna.com/blog/10-health-benefits-of-steam-rooms/?srsltid=AfmBOorFbqrtRN_Og3o1Pumukck9ZpcmlONbuPC98ASo1AM5Y5rU2POQ
- https://posh.co.uk/living/should-you-use-steam-rooms-after-a-workout/
- https://perfectbath.com/healthy-to-take-steam-bath-daily/?srsltid=AfmBOopo0h1Wi3HLyKQmTRDmUhaJysTqlRuB1-430kjp_FzTIkFUqier
- https://th7bodylabs.com.au/is-it-ok-to-use-the-steam-room-everyday/
- https://www.ymcamidtn.org/health-and-fitness/articles/how-sauna-and-steam-room-can-help-your-health#:~:text=The%20sauna%2Fsteam%20room%20should,for%203%2D4%20cycles.%E2%80%9D
- https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/sauna-benefits/?sem_campaign=PMAXDynStylecraze_India&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA6aW6BhBqEiwA6KzDcyBa0TQMPLKAuJZuQ1imj17AclFj2UriOGzukKHErWknA8SmwJmKixoCKe4QAvD_BwE
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