A sauna is a type of hot-air bath made of wood, large enough for people to comfortably lie down or sit in, containing hot, dry air. Generally, the temperature in a sauna ranges from 40 to 90°C. The temperature can reach 100°C at ceiling height.
In a properly ventilated sauna, a humidity level of 5% to 10% allows people to withstand this temperature. The heat of the heated steam stones is estimated to be around 200°C. Water mixed in a bucket with pre-selected refreshing sauna essences must be poured onto the hot stones, controlling the humidity level in the sauna cabin. This is a fundamental characteristic of the Finnish sauna. The only thing that makes traditional saunas reputable in people's eyes is the quality of the sauna steam.
There is no (specific) therapeutic goal for those who use saunas. Its role should be considered protective of human health, preparing our bodies for living in harmony with nature, and relieving stress, the most dreaded disease of our time. A sauna is a place where a person sits and sweats profusely. There are many advantages to sweating effectively while in a passive state. First and foremost, unlike the fatigue caused by active sweating, sweating in a sauna relieves fatigue. The removal of toxic metabolic waste products through sweat from the skin pores provides general relaxation and relief. There is a linear relationship between body temperature changes and heart rate (pulse). As body temperature increases due to the hot air in the sauna, the pulse rate also increases. In a sauna, the pulse rate increases by 50-60% compared to the resting state, reaching 100-150 beats per minute. Despite this rapid increase in pulse rate, there is only a very slight increase in blood pressure (hypertension).
Therefore, the actual load on the circulatory system is low. Even less trained hearts can easily adapt to the sauna. In pulse rate comparisons made in well-trained athletes, it has been observed that staying in a sauna at 90°C for 15 minutes is equivalent to a 3000m run in pulse rate measurements. Therefore, regular sauna use is believed to be beneficial.
English
Türkçe
