People equate steam showers and saunas as part of a luxurious spa and wellness centre experience. These facilities allow clients to step inside an enclosed space and engulf themselves in steam, which in turn, helps release toxins and provide other health benefits. While different establishments use varying temperatures for their steam, it is usually kept at 110 °F, which is comfortable enough for most customers.
Nonetheless, a spa day doesn’t come cheap, so some homeowners have taken it upon themselves to bring the steam shower experience home. They invest in acquiring an excellent shower fixture and enclosure to satisfy their needs. It may be a costly addition, especially if the homeowner decides to go with the premium models, but studies show that the benefits outweigh the cost in the long run.
The following are some of the benefits of taking steam showers regularly:
Lowers blood pressure
When you take a steam shower, your body reacts by releasing hormones that regulate your heart rate. One of these hormones, aldosterone, is crucial to decreasing your blood pressure, helping you feel relaxed after 10 to 15 minutes in the shower.
Improves blood circulation
Sitting inside the steam room and enjoying the steam helps your heart in several ways. It opens up the vessels and increases blood flow, especially to the extremities. With better circulation, your body feels invigorated, stimulating the heart and allowing you to heal and recover faster.
Clears congestions
Stepping inside a steam shower clears your nasal passageways. The warm steam stimulates your mucous membranes, which allows your body to break up and expel the congestion in your lungs and sinuses. This is the reason why your chest feels lighter after a few minutes. Contrary to several misconceptions, you cannot scald yourself when using a steam shower, especially if you don’t stay too long inside the enclosure.
Promotes better skin health
Our skin needs moisture, and a trip to the steam room will rehydrate dry, tired skin. It will open pores and stimulate the release of toxins and dirt from your body. This also eliminates dead skin cells that can lead to acne breakouts. You will notice how supple and glowing your skin looks after a trip inside the steam room.
Relieves stress
Stress is due to cortisol, a hormone that the body releases when it feels muscle tightness and exhaustion. The steam helps to relax your body, stimulating the release of other hormones that allow you to feel much better afterwards.
Helps recovery workout
People who frequent the gym know that they will feel soreness after an intense workout. This is known as delayed onset muscle soreness, which significantly affects movement and comfort. A trip to the steam room will help them recover faster as the moist heat penetrates deep tissues better.
Boosts the immune system
Steam showers are a form of hydrotherapy, and studies have shown that the body reacts to the experience positively. Exposing oneself to steam stimulates leukocytes, which are the body’s first line of defence against infection.
Takeaway
Steam showers provide several health benefits. Installing one in your bathroom may be costly, but the benefits will outweigh the cons in the long run.
Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/real-estate-interior-bath-room-6900973/
