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- Canadian Family Physician: Far-Infrared Saunas for Treatment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors
- Canadian Family Physician: Far-Infrared Saunas for Treatment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors
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Infrared Sauna Benefits & Risks
Infrared saunas are touted as a great way to enjoy the benefits of a sauna while using less energy. Despite the many health benefits which have been linked to infrared sauna therapy, few have been supported by conclusive evidence. Those considering infrared saunas as an option for health treatments should consult a doctor first 2.
Identification
An infrared sauna is not the same as a steam sauna. According to AltMed, a website on complementary and alternative medicine from the Creighton University Medical Center, an infrared sauna is heated using incandescent infrared heat lamps. Dr. Mehmet Oz from The Oprah Winfrey Show explains that the infrared energy produced by these saunas is the same as that which comes from the sun. Therefore, users are able to experience the beneficial effects of infrared radiation without exposing themselves to harmful UV radiation from the sun.
- An infrared sauna is not the same as a steam sauna.
- According to AltMed, a website on complementary and alternative medicine from the Creighton University Medical Center, an infrared sauna is heated using incandescent infrared heat lamps.
Types
The Effects of Sitting in the Sauna
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The infrared energy that is created by the heat lamps in an infrared sauna is typically classified as near infrared and middle infrared energy. However, there are also saunas that are specifically categorized as far infrared saunas for their ability to produce this type of energy. According to the journal Canadian Family Physician, far infrared saunas, also known as FIRSs, are approved by the Canadian Standards Association 2.
Benefits
Numerous health benefits have been linked to infrared sauna use. Canadian Family Physician website reports that there is a fair amount of evidence associating infrared sauna use to improvements in congestive heart failure and blood pressure. Furthermore, the journal explains that some evidence exists that infrared saunas may help to ease chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic pain. A study reported in the journal Clinical Rheumatology explained that the use of infrared saunas helped to decrease pain and stiffness for patients with rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis. Dr. Oz also reports that infrared saunas can cause the body to sweat out toxins, burn calories and increase blood circulation.
- Numerous health benefits have been linked to infrared sauna use.
- Furthermore, the journal explains that some evidence exists that infrared saunas may help to ease chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic pain.
Misconceptions
Can a Sauna After Exercise Help Burn Fat?
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While many health benefits have been linked to infrared saunas, the evidence is not conclusive in most cases. For example, the benefits reported by the Canadian Family Physician are categorized as having either "limited moderate," "fair" or "weak" evidence to support them. Other health benefit claims previously linked to infrared saunas have also been reported, such as cholesterol reduction. Furthermore, the Federal Trade Commission has forced at least one company to refund customers who purchased their infrared saunas due to incorrect claims that it could treat or prevent a range of conditions including cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ulcers, herpes and asthma.
- While many health benefits have been linked to infrared saunas, the evidence is not conclusive in most cases.
- For example, the benefits reported by the Canadian Family Physician are categorized as having either "limited moderate," "fair" or "weak" evidence to support them.
Warnings
If your skin becomes clammy or you begin to feel tired or nauseous when using a sauna, exit the sauna immediately to avoid heat exhaustion. Anyone who may be experiencing a heat stroke, which is usually signaled when a person stops sweating in high heat conditions, should also leave the sauna.
Creighton University Medical School's AltMed website explains that individuals with a history of multiple sclerosis, hemophilia, hyperthyroidism, systemic lupus erythematous or adrenal suppression should not use an infrared sauna. Furthermore, those who are pregnant, nursing or experiencing their menstrual flow should not use a sauna. Those with artificial joints, metal pins and silicone implants should also avoid using these machines. The effects of some prescription drugs may be altered due to the high heat in a sauna.
- If your skin becomes clammy or you begin to feel tired or nauseous when using a sauna, exit the sauna immediately to avoid heat exhaustion.
- Furthermore, those who are pregnant, nursing or experiencing their menstrual flow should not use a sauna.
Related Articles
References
- Oprah.com: High-Tech Ways to Extend Your Life
- Canadian Family Physician: Far-Infrared Saunas for Treatment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors
- Beever, R. (2010). Do Far-infrared Saunas Have Cardiovascular Benefits in People with Type 2 Diabetes? Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 34(2), 113–118. doi:10.1016/s1499-2671(10)42007-9
- Beever R. (2009). Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: summary of published evidence. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 55(7), 691–696. PMID: 19602651
- Crinnion WJ. (2011). Sauna as a valuable clinical tool for cardiovascular, autoimmune, toxicant-induced and other chronic health problems. Environmental Medicine.
- Dean, W. (1981). Effect of sweating. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 246(6), 623–623
- Imamura, M., Biro, S., & Kihara, T. (2002). Repeated thermal therapy improves impaired vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary risk factors. ACC Current Journal Review, 11(2), 32. doi:10.1016/s1062-1458(02)00539-1
- Joy Hussain and Marc Cohen, “Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2018, Article ID 1857413, 30 pages, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1857413
- Kunutsor, S. K., Laukkanen, T., & Laukkanen, J. A. (2017). Sauna bathing reduces the risk of respiratory diseases: a long-term prospective cohort study. European Journal of Epidemiology, 32(12), 1107–1111. doi:10.1007/s10654-017-0311-6
- Laukkanen, J. A., Laukkanen, T., & Kunutsor, S. K. (2018). Cardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing: A Review of the Evidence. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 93(8), 1111–1121. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2018.04.008
- Laukkanen, T., Khan, H., Zaccardi, F., & Laukkanen, J. A. (2015). Association Between Sauna Bathing and Fatal Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality Events. JAMA Internal Medicine, 175(4), 542. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8187
- Margaret E. Sears, Kathleen J. Kerr, and Riina I. Bray, “Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury in Sweat: A Systematic Review,” Journal of Environmental and Public Health, vol. 2012, Article ID 184745, 10 pages, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/184745.
- Mero, A., Tornberg, J., Mäntykoski, M., & Puurtinen, R. (2015). Effects of far-infrared sauna bathing on recovery from strength and endurance training sessions in men. SpringerPlus, 4, 321. doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1093-5
- Oosterveld, F. G. J., Rasker, J. J., Floors, M., Landkroon, R., van Rennes, B., Zwijnenberg, J., … Koel, G. J. (2008). Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Clinical Rheumatology, 28(1), 29–34. doi:10.1007/s10067-008-0977-y
- Shui, S., Wang, X., Chiang, J. Y., & Zheng, L. (2015). Far-infrared therapy for cardiovascular, autoimmune, and other chronic health problems: A systematic review. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 240(10), 1257–1265. doi:10.1177/1535370215573391
- Soejima, Y., Munemoto, T., Masuda, A., Uwatoko, Y., Miyata, M., & Tei, C. (2015). Effects of Waon Therapy on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Pilot Study. Internal Medicine, 54(3), 333–338. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.54.3042
- Stephen J. Genuis, Sanjay Beesoon, Detlef Birkholz, and Rebecca A. Lobo, “Human Excretion of Bisphenol A: Blood, Urine, and Sweat (BUS) Study,” Journal of Environmental and Public Health, vol. 2012, Article ID 185731, 10 pages, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/185731.
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Writer Bio
Ashley Henshaw is a writer based in Chicago. Her work has appeared on the websites of The Huffington Post, "USA Today" and "The San Francisco Chronicle," among others. Henshaw received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Loyola University Chicago.