10 health benefits of using a steam room

Steam therapy has been used in countries across the world for centuries, from the steam bathing of the Greeks and Romans to the sauna culture of Scandinavia.

Steam room installation has never been more affordable and with this luxury, previously reserved for the rich and famous and your local spa, now available to more domestic homeowners than ever before.

If you are considering a steam room or sauna on your property, you understandably want to know that this is a worthwhile investment to make.

Luckily for you, there are a huge range of fantastic health benefits to using a steam room, alongside the social and mental advantages of taking a nice steam bath after a long hard day at work.

Health Benefits of Steam Rooms

Steam therapy has been regarded as beneficial to health since its inception over 12,000 years ago.

Unlike other traditional health treatments that have been discredited over the years, all that advances in scientific research have done is to discover even more advantages to steam bathing and heat treatment.

Here are 10 of the biggest health benefits of steam room usage:

Clearing congestion

One of the main questions that we get asked as an installer of both bespoke saunas and steam rooms is what the difference is between the two.

As you might have guessed, the answer is steam. Saunas produce high heat at low humidity levels, whilst steam rooms have humidity levels of around 95-100%.

The steam they produce can help to clear congestion by loosening phlegm and mucus, and reduces symptoms of colds such as sore throats, headaches, and sinus pain.

Improving skin health

Steam bathing causes your pores to open up and allow toxins that have built up underneath to escape.

It also causes condensation to build on the surface of the skin that breaks up dirt that has gathered there and produces clearer and more toned looking skin.

Promotes injury healing

By increasing your body temperature, sitting in a steam room will dilate your blood vessels and increase blood circulation.

This will result in oxygenated blood reaching all areas of the body, promoting the healing of minor injuries.

Aid recovery

After a long workout, there is nothing better than jumping in your home steam room and having a good soak.

Steam rooms have been proven to ease sore muscles by improving blood flow, and can even remove some of the waste products that your body produces during exercise.

Reduce joint pain

Those with arthritis or other stiff joint conditions report that steam rooms offer a welcome relief from discomfort both during and after a session.

The increase in blood flow created by exposure to heat can help to loosen up joints and relieve stiffness.

There is a reason, after all, that athletes like to ‘warm up’ before a workout. Steam rooms have a similar impact.

Lower blood pressure

Steam rooms and saunas are an effective way to reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels.

This can dramatically improve cardiovascular health and help reduce the risk of a variety of life threatening conditions such as strokes, heart attacks, and respiratory conditions.

Bear in mind that overuse of a sauna or steam room could lead to potentially dangerous low blood pressure, especially if you already suffer from such issues, so consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns prior to use.

Reduced Stress

Reduced stress may seem like more of a mental health benefit than physical health, but the fact is that reducing stress can help relieve a wide range of physical aches and pains.

Not only can stress lead to high blood pressure, the risks of which we have already discussed, but it can also lead to a weaker immune system and increase the chances of colds and other viruses.

Aids weight loss

Whilst steam rooms should not be seen as a method to lose weight fast, any weight lost during a steaming will likely be water weight that needs to be replenished, they can help you in your weight loss journey.

After exercise, there is a period where your heart rate is still elevated and your body burns calories at a faster rate than would otherwise be the case.

Increasing your body temperature by sitting in a steam room will prolong this stage and can help to facilitate gradual weight loss.

Improve breathing

As the steam in a steam room opens up your mucous membranes you will be able to breathe more freely, and this is a great place in which to practice your breathing exercises.

Mental Health

Steam rooms are fantastic for both your physical and mental health.

Not only do they help you to de-stress and forget about your worries for a time, but they are also a great place to socialise.

In Finland, saunas have been used for conversations between friends and family for centuries, so why not continue this great tradition and use your steam room as a chance to catch up with those closest to you?