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If you need to relax after a strenuous workout, pamper your body and improve blood circulation, steam room might be exactly that perfect spot you’ve been searching for. Once you get inside this place where water-filled generators pump steam to create an environment with almost 100% of humidity, you’ll feel its instant impact on your entire body. Moist heat in steam rooms as opposed to dry heat encountered in saunas is excellent for detoxification, soothing possible respiratory problems and improving the appearance of your skin. Steam rooms are usually made of glass or tile to prevent the loss of precious moisture as it can’t be soaked into these materials in the way wood is capable of absorbing it, which makes the whole experience uniquely intense. Let’s take a look at some of the most important and rewarding steam room benefits!
1. Steam Room Benefits: It hydrates and cleanses your skin
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Increased amounts of moisture can definitely do wonders when it comes to hydrating your dry skin and making it softer to the touch. Extremely high levels of humidity in steam rooms open your pores and help your skin get rid of dirt, sebum and toxins. The result is smooth, rejuvenated and younger looking skin ready to be treated with a good moisturizer for the ultimate effect. This is particularly good for people suffering from acne and blackheads who usually report that steam rooms give them clearer skin with a healthy glow.
2. Steam Room Benefits: It Alleviates Respiratory Problems
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Both saunas and steam rooms will make you sweat, but it is said that steam rooms are way ahead of saunas when it comes to soothing various respiratory conditions. The steam opens your airways and clears throat, lung, sinus and nasal congestion, which results in easier breathing and relieves irritation and pressure that is often the consequence of having asthma, bronchitis or sinusitis. Hot water vapor is a natural humidifier perfect for easing the dryness that can be present in some parts of your respiratory tract – once moisten, all your air passages will open and this will help you get rid of trapped mucus and bacteria.
3. Steam Room Benefits: It Helps You Relax
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After a long and tiresome workday or a particularly strenuous workout, we all need to get rid of stress and wind down – steam room can help us get there fast. Regardless of whether you need to release physical or mental tension or relax stiff muscles, this comfortable and quiet environment will enable you to restore the balance you are craving for. The heat combined with high levels of moisture is believed to be particularly good for inducing deep restorative sleep. It also increases the release of endorphins responsible for the overall feeling of well-being, as well the production of melatonin, which induces and maintains normal circadian rhythm. Heat calms down nerve endings and warms our joints and muscles to make them soft and minimize the pain provoked by tension and lack of flexibility.
4. Steam Room Benefits: It Improves Blood Circulation
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Your cardiovascular system can surely benefit from the time spent in a steam room – heat and humidity dilate blood vessels, which in turn facilitates the blood flow in your entire body and help oxygen get to your cells in a faster and more efficient way. This environment increases your heart rate, which means faster metabolism and improved blood circulation. However, if you have any known heart problems or if you experience any symptoms that can be related to a cardiovascular disease, it would be absolutely wise to consult your doctor beforehand to check if it is a good idea to visit steam rooms. If your doctor thinks that in spite of your issues you could still benefit from the exposure to the humid air, be sure not to stay inside too long to avoid potential side-effects, such as dizziness, vertigo or severely increased heart rate that occurs without making any particular physical effort.
5. Steam Room Benefits: It Strengthens Your Immune System
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The warmth and humidity trigger excessive sweating, which helps wash out toxins from the body and secures healthier functioning of all tissues, immune system included. It not only promotes circulation and results in weight loss due to the decrease in the amount of water in your body released by sweating, but it also helps create an increased number of white blood cells, the first line of defense against bacterial, viral or fungal infections. We have already mentioned that one of steam room benefits include improving sleep patterns and promoting deep sleep – this in turn strengthens immunity by allowing our bodies to get proper amount of daily relaxation, vital for the production of one type of white blood cells called T cells, responsible for many different types of immune responses.
We’ve seen that various steam room benefits act in synergy to secure excellent functioning of our bodies on many levels, as long as your state of health permits you to enjoy this pleasurable experience. Don’t stay inside for too long and be sure to drink enough water and have only a small light meal before entering a steam room to minimize possible side-effects and boost the advantages that you’re blessed to have at your disposal!
Have you ever been to a steam room and did you like it? Tell us all about it!
