Sauna Cardiovascular Conditioning

The number of individuals suffering from cardivascular disease is on the increase. Each year, heart disease kills more people than cancer. It is the number one cause of death and disability in North America and most European countries.

A very common form of cardivascular disease is atherosclerosis. With atherosclerosis, fatty material thickens and hardens against the walls of arteries. This plaque can eventually build up and cause a blockage in an artery. As the plaque builds up it reduces flexibility and blood flow and can eventually cause a heart attack. If blood clots form around the plaque and if the clot or pieces of plaque break loose they can move through arteries causing a heart attack or a stroke.

There is now a heavy emphasis on preventing atherosclerosis by the reduction of many risk factors, such as unhealthy eating, smoking and lack of exercise.

Saunas have been used by our ancestors for centuries to improve health and wellness. Far Infrared Saunas are very effective in maintaining a strong and healthy heart and cardiovascular system.

The function of the blood vessels are to transport blood throughout the entire body. The most important vessels in the cardiovascular system are the capillaries, which enable the exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and the tissues. The circulatory system moves nutrients, gases, and wastes into and out of cells, helps fight diseases, stabilize body temperature and pH.

In cases of atherosclerosis, the blood supply to the heart is decreased. A far infrared sauna can help encourage the growth of new blood vessels in damaged areas and increased the production of nitric oxide. The deep penetrating heat of a sauna stimulates the heart to increase blood circulation and send more blood to the cells.

As your body increases sweat production to cool itself, your heart works harder to boost circulation. As the moisture on the surface of the skin evaporates and cools the body, a number of other changes occur to release the heat as quickly as possible.

The blood vessels increase in diameter (This process is called vasodilatation) and the heart beats harder and faster. As a result, more oxygen rich blood is pumped through the dilated blood vessels achieving the same conditioning benefits as continuous exercise. This oxygen rich blood provides a tremendous healing effect when it reaches damaged areas of the body.

In addition to the benefit of increased blood flow, more toxic substances are removed from the body through the liver, kidneys and skin. A 30 minute session in a far infrared sauna creates approximately the same amount of perspiration as a 6 mile run.

Even people who in the past have been advised to avoid saunas, such as heart patients, and asthmatics, have been shown to have their symptoms relieved in a far infrared sauna.