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Is a Steam Room a Viable Option in Your Home?

By: Marie Claire Lagrisola
Is a Steam Room a Viable Option in Your Home

Now that the rainy season is back at it again in our country, you and your family may have been trying to find ways to heat up your House and Lot for Sale in San Pedro Laguna. Unwind at your home with a personal steam room—an escape into relaxation. Embrace warm mist, melt away stress, and soothe muscles in your own cozy oasis. Whether beating the heat or enjoying rainy days, it’s a laid-back spa experience right at home.

Steam Rooms Are a Huge Plus

Heat bathing has been a long ancient practice spanning various cultures including the Russian banyas, American Indian sweat lodges, and even here in the Philippines with our numerous hot springs that are near your House and Lot for Sale in San Pedro Laguna. With many people doing this since the dawn of time, turning one of the rooms of your home into a room that oozes off (figuratively and literally) warm energy will absolutely be a tremendous idea. Especially with its tons of health benefits.

Many call it “heat therapy,” and having a steam room in your house for you and your family will improve the state of your well-being just like any other kind of therapy would do. Such benefits include weight loss, improved metabolism, skin rejuvenation, stress reduction, and improved function of the cardiovascular system among many, many other things.

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The Benefits of Using a Steam Room for Your Health

Enhances blood circulation and supports cardiovascular health

Studies show that with moist heat, or even heat in general, enhances circulation. Perhaps this is why when we get extremely cold, we become pale which could show that blood flow is not in a good state. Meanwhile, when it is hot, we tend to go red and flushed (with blood) because of the heat.

The improved circulation of blood lowers the blood pressure of our bodies which leads to a healthier cardiovascular system. And, just in case you did not know yet, cardiovascular problems are the number one leading health cause of death.

Another interesting fact is that previous research indicates that exposure to steam room conditions can lead to the release of hormones that influence heart rate, including aldosterone, which regulates blood pressure.

When aldosterone is released due to steam room exposure, it can aid in reducing high blood pressure, contributing to the relaxing effect often experienced in steam rooms.

As evidenced by a study conducted in 2021, steam baths can potentially enhance heart function by reducing blood pressure among healthy individuals. This study observed decreases in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure in healthy subjects who underwent 10–15 minute steam baths once a week over a 12-week period.

Alleviates Stress

The relaxation induced by sitting in a steamy bath or steam room is widely recognized, although the precise mechanisms remain somewhat uncertain. One theory posits that the heat in a steam room triggers the release of endorphins, commonly referred to as “feel-good” hormones that alleviate stress and anxiety.

Another explanation involves steam room sessions leading to a reduction in cortisol levels, the hormone released in response to stress. Reduced cortisol levels translate to heightened relaxation and rejuvenation.

A research review suggests that sauna bathing could potentially reduce stress levels, particularly in individuals in high-stress occupations. Although the focus of this study was primarily on saunas, the benefits might extend to steam rooms due to their shared focus on heat stress.

The study underscores that sauna usage, even at a rate of one to two sessions weekly, could result in temporary enhancements in blood pressure and arterial stiffness. More frequent and extended sauna use could lead to improved stress tolerance and enhanced overall health.

However, the study notes the absence of a clear link between heat stress and the underlying cellular mechanisms. Despite this, the potential of sauna bathing to mitigate metabolic risk factors in high-stress occupations is recognized.

The study also advocates for further exploration into the effects of short-term and long-term sauna use on bodily responses and performance.

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Enhances Mental Wellbeing

Heat-based treatments, including steam rooms, could foster mental wellness by redirecting focus toward relaxation and away from stress-inducing news and digital consumption.

Engaging in heat-based activities might induce a state of mindfulness and heightened focus on the breath, both of which have extensive psychological benefits. These potential benefits encompass improved sleep, stress reduction, and enhanced mood resulting from engaging in positive self-care activities.

Additionally, sauna bathing has been linked to a decreased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as seen in a study involving Finnish men. However, further investigations are needed to elucidate the specific physiological processes connecting sauna bathing and memory-related disorders.

Enhances Joint Flexibility

If ever you feel like your bones have not been stronger as they used to be (which is very common among adults), and you have been cracking your back nonstops, perhaps indulging yourself in a steam room would do the trick.

An older study from 2013 investigates the effects of heat on soft tissue flexibility. The application of heat to the knee joint prior to activity results in improved joint flexibility and relaxation. With this, you can have that peace of mind that developing arthritis and other bone and joint defects would be more avoidable in the future when you grow older.

Burns Calories

Ultimately, everyone wants to be fit. Even more, it would not require all the effort of exercising and moving. Well, you can actually burn calories without moving a muscle by being in a steam room or sauna! Its heat would increase your heart rate which leads to calorie loss. Do not forget to hydrate yourself every now and then though!

Indeed, having a steam room in the Philippines may seem unorthodox but, really, it is just one of those hidden gems that people have yet to discover and marvel about. Be the first one to try it!

Read more: Best Home Remedies During the Rainy Season

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