2024-07-14 06:10:48
According to the professor, visiting the sauna should be a planned and systematic activity. In terms of health, it is best to go to the sauna 3-4 times a week. You don’t need to stay, 10-20 minutes is enough.
And the temperature cannot be high – 60 degrees Celsius is enough. Staying in the sauna should not be a pain, but a pleasure.
“Such intelligent, systematic heat scavenges, cleans bad fat from the liver,” A. Skurvydas said in the “Kuriam pirtis” program of “Žiniai Radio”.
He added that sauna sessions increase the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol in the body. It is poisonous because it cleans the walls of blood vessels and prevents the accumulation of harmful fats.
“The sauna reduces local inflammatory processes and delays aging,” A. Skurvydas singled out another benefit of heat therapy.
An alternative to sports training
He continued that the sauna contributes to a better control of blood glucose concentration and thus protects against the development of diabetes.
“It is particularly interesting that the number of capillaries in the heart and skeletal muscles increases when you are in a sauna.
Heat shock protein stimulates an increase in contractile proteins in the heart muscle. In other words, scientists say that for people who have difficulty lifting weights, the sauna is one of the alternative measures that prevent skeletal muscles from atrophying,” said A. Skurvydas.
So, it can be said that the sauna represents strength training.
“Elite scientific journals tell athletes that if they want to improve their endurance, heart and muscle health, training can be done in a sauna,” added A.Skurvydas.
Stimulates the production of “happiness” hormones
The professor explained that a visit to the sauna is a workout for the walls of the blood vessels, because they relax in the heat, and then contract when you dive into the cold water.
According to A. Skurvydas, people with high blood pressure can lower it if they visit the sauna regularly. The benefits are long-lasting.
It is true that if hypertension is very advanced – the “upper” number of blood pressure reaches 170 mmHg, then you should be especially careful when taking a bath.
It has also been observed that saunas produce endorphins – the “happiness” hormones – so heat therapy helps reduce stress.
“That’s why our mood is uplifted after a sauna. Endorphins increase, we no longer feel pain, relaxation takes place”, said A.Skurvydas.
He added that the sauna can work as a preventive measure against heart failure.
Helps prolong life
What can’t be done in the sauna? Eating, smoking, drinking alcohol.
It is advisable to keep your head cooler – that’s what a hat is for. A higher temperature is good for the body, but not for the brain, emphasized A.Skurvydas.
“In order to be fresh and alert, the head needs to be cooled and the body warmed up,” concluded the professor.
Ice water after a sauna can cause too much shock. Therefore, you should cool down gradually, for example, you can wash yourself with cooler water.
There are sworn fans of the sauna, but some people would say that such an activity is not to their heart.
“If you want to live longer – 10-15 years – do it in a healthy way. The sauna will strengthen your heart, regulate blood pressure, and optimize obesity. The sauna is very useful for the quality of life. This is the main argument”, emphasized A. Skurvydas.
“If you don’t like running, your legs hurt, a sauna can be a very good alternative,” he added.
2024-07-14 06:10:48