Infrared saunas provide relaxation in everyday life.
The comfortable heat of an infrared sauna has beneficial effects on stress and fatigue.Half an hour a day has been shown to have long-term positivehealth effects.
The deep heating of the muscles in combination with relaxing favourite music on the speakers brings the body into a relaxed state that is perceived as well-being and invigorating. Infrared saunas have been shown to have very good effects on insomnia.
Getting a deep sauna heat to a nice music brings peace & harmony.
And stress, what is it?
The 'ancient' stress and the 'modern' stress
When the brain signals danger, the heart starts beating faster, muscles tense and stress hormones are released into the bloodstream to fuel the body to react faster and cope better. The body is temporarily out of balance to deal with the impending danger.
Our bodies react the same way in a stressful situation as they did thousands of years ago. But our 'modern' stressors are different from those of our ancestors and often self-designed. In the past, people experienced stress when they were attacked by a wild animal, for example. Once the situation was resolved, hormone levels normalised and the body could recover. In the past, people experienced stress when they were attacked by a wild animal, for example. The problem in today's society is that our bodies are not physically active when we experience a stress reaction.
One of the contemporary stressors is lack of time. This means that we cannot effectively get rid of the extra energy and stress hormones that we accumulate, leading to a deterioration of bodily functions that depend on good circulation, such as digestion and the immune system.
Why do we suffer from stress?
Stress is triggered by a variety of physiological and psychological factors, collectively known as stressors. Physiological stressors include smoking, alcohol, environmental toxins and various physical injuries. Psychological stressors can include not liking your job, being bullied at school, having relationship problems or the death of a loved one.
Many people find that they work more effectively under stress, in which case it is positive stress. But even if you enjoy your work, your body cannot cope with too much strain. That's why it's important to listen to your body's own signals. All stress becomes unhealthy and even dangerous if the body and the brain say no but are not given a chance to recover.
Stress starts with the brain interpreting what happens to us or around us as something difficult, dangerous or unpleasant. This interpretation is individual and different people react differently when exposed to the same stresses.
How the body reacts to stress
Stress primarily involves the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal glands. The sympathetic nervous system is part of the body's autonomic nervous system, which cannot be controlled by the will. The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys and produce the stress hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol.
When the brain interprets a situation as stressful, impulses are sent through the body's stress system of nerves and hormones. These impulses set in motion a variety of reactions in the body whose task is to deal with the demanding situation.
The heart starts beating faster to allow more blood to be pumped to the organs that need extra blood during the stress. Blood is redistributed from the stomach and intestines to the muscles, heart and lungs. At the same time, blood vessels constrict and blood flow increases. This way, the body is prepared for possible injuries that can cause haemorrhaging. The stress system ensures that breathing becomes faster and deeper so that blood oxygenation increases in muscles and other organs.
Stress also increases the release of fatty acids and sugars, which provide energy to muscles and organs. Short-term stress strengthens the immune system to protect against attack, but long-term stress without recovery weakens the immune system. Levels of stress hormones increase, while levels of sex and growth hormones in the blood decrease. Under stress, certain functions of the body that are needed at the time are boosted, while other functions, such as digestion, are toned down.
Fight or flight
Researchers have shown that the body reacts to stress in two ways, by either wanting to fight or flee. The fight or flight response increases the sympathetic nervous system and the release of the stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline into the blood. This leads to increased blood lipids, heart rate and blood pressure.
If the stress feels overwhelming and uncontrollable, an escape reaction occurs instead. In this type of reaction, the production of the third stress hormone cortisol increases, while the production of testosterone, insulin and growth hormone decreases. The more cortisol, the worse we perform. We become passive and hope that someone will solve the situation for us. In the long run, this leads to feeling powerless, depressed, lacking energy and having difficulty concentrating.
Acute and prolonged stress
During short-term stress, the release of stress hormones causes the body to rev up and improves its ability to cope with stress. When the acute stress subsides, the body needs to recover by releasing hormones that calm the body, such as oxytocin. We sweat and urinate out the stress hormones and the brain sends out signals that everything can return to normal. This short-term stress is not dangerous and is even necessary; it is part of our ability to survive. If the stress disappears quickly, the body returns to normal without any particular health risks.
With persistent stress, the production of calming hormones is reduced and the body becomes less able to recover. This means that the sympathetic nervous system is overworked and high levels of stress hormones remain in the body. The stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline cause a high heart rate and increased blood pressure. Increased production of cortisol can lead to atherosclerosis, insulin sensitivity and the so-called metabolic syndrome.
In other words, prolonged stress can contribute to various adverse health effects and diseases. Brain activity is affected, immune system functions and learning ability are impaired. When you are stressed, fatty acids are released into the body and levels of harmful cholesterol increase in the blood. Asthma and eczema are often aggravated by stress. Digestion becomes less efficient, the body is depleted of energy, blood pressure rises and the risk of diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases increases.
Learn to manage your stress
Research has shown that so-called competitive people are at greater risk of developing stress-related diseases. Another personality type, the inhibited and withdrawn in social contexts, is also easily affected. The work and social environment in which we live can reinforce or diminish our personality type.
Stress can help you perform better, but it can also lead to a physical and mental breakdown. Learning what stress is and how to deal with a tough situation is a first step in the coping process. There are many factors that contribute to stress, so it is important to look at your whole life situation. The most important thing is to try to remove at least some of the causes of stress. Breaking a pattern of stress is often difficult and takes time, but is possible for most people.
Can an infrared sauna help?
Many of those who use infrared sauna has documented that stress decreases, you let go of the "calm for yourself". Getting this relaxation "just for yourself" and finally being a little selfish can be helpful when you live a busy life with hustle and bustle and stress in everyday life. Many people compare a massage to an infrared sauna session, the muscles relax and you feel a nice warmth throughout your body. In the most exclusive spas and hotels, you can find infrared saunas for hire, so it is clearly an advantage if you can have access to infrared saunas at home.
Last but not least, it is not the acute stress that is dangerous but the prolonged stress that can lead to a physical and mental breakdown. So remember - don't let stress take over your life. Oneinfrared saunaCan give you a much-needed break from everyday life.