Saunas - Healthy at Any Age

<h1>Saunas - Healthy at Any Age</h1>Author: <a title="Emmanuel Defreitas" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/emmanuel-defreitas/6885.htm">Emmanuel Defreitas</a> By: Emmanuel DeFreitas
I have always liked to say that time in the sauna is time well spent, especially if you are accompanied by family or special friends. The one thing you surely want to guarantee is that the safety and comfort of your family and guests is your utmost priority. Two crucial things to never forget are the usual caveats of no food at least one hour prior to going into the sauna, and definitely, positively, no booze. Alcohol detracts from the entire sauna experience and digestion places an enormous demand on your system as a whole. Another consideration is the possible side effects of a sauna on people in different age groups.
Children as a whole do well in saunas but since their sweat glands are not as well developed as in an adult, they do tend to prefer lower temperatures. There are at least three possible solutions. The first is to make sure the temperature is in the more tolerable range to accommodate the children. Although this may impede the preferences of the adults, it is after all, a family affair. Another possible solution would be to make sure the children are on the lowest bench where the temperature is slightly more supportable for them. The third solution would be to fire up the sauna as usual and let the children stay as long as they are contented and allow them to leave before the adults are finished.
In Finland where there is a ratio of one sauna for every five individuals, it is not unusual to see elderly people into their eighties and beyond regularly using saunas. Almost ninety percent of people over the age of eighty years of age still take saunas regularly in Finland. This statistic is a true testament to the health benefits associated with sauna use. How do you think they got to be that age in the first place?
The story for older individuals is slightly different if you do not live in Finland or have not been habituated to regular sauna use. For an older individual to start taking saunas at an advanced age may be a little more difficult. The trick is to ease into the experience of regular sauna use gradually and resist the urge to make up for lost years all at once. Again, I must stress, the safety and comfort of the individual is paramount, regardless of the age.
To quote Dr. Jonathan L. Halperin, Professor of internal medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, " Moderate sauna use is safe for most older people, but diabetics and anyone being treated for heart or circulatory conditions should check with their doctor, particularly if they are taking medications" (quoted by Dorothy Berinstein in Good Housekeeping, 1995).
The health benefits from regular sauna use are well documented. Just ask any Finn over the age of eighty. We in North America and other parts of the world where saunas are not used by a large percentage of the population have a lot of catching up to do. Today is as good a day to start as any. Enjoy your sauna.

About the Author: <a title="TheSaunaCenter" href="http://the-sauna-center.com">The Sauna Center </a>- Information on health benefits, different styles and types of sauna, the safe use of saunas, how to build a sauna, medical analysis, aesthetics, and the sheer beauty of it all. 
<a href="http://the-sauna-center.com"> <a target="_blank" href="http://the-sauna-center.com">http://the-sauna-center.com</a></a>

Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/saunas-healthy-at-any-age-48957.html" title="Saunas - Healthy at Any Age">Saunas - Healthy at Any Age</a>

By: Emmanuel DeFreitas

I have always liked to say that time in the sauna is time well spent, especially if you are accompanied by family or special friends. The one thing you surely want to guarantee is that the safety and comfort of your family and guests is your utmost priority. Two crucial things to never forget are the usual caveats of no food at least one hour prior to going into the sauna, and definitely, positively, no booze. Alcohol detracts from the entire sauna experience and digestion places an enormous demand on your system as a whole. Another consideration is the possible side effects of a sauna on people in different age groups.

Children as a whole do well in saunas but since their sweat glands are not as well developed as in an adult, they do tend to prefer lower temperatures. There are at least three possible solutions. The first is to make sure the temperature is in the more tolerable range to accommodate the children. Although this may impede the preferences of the adults, it is after all, a family affair. Another possible solution would be to make sure the children are on the lowest bench where the temperature is slightly more supportable for them. The third solution would be to fire up the sauna as usual and let the children stay as long as they are contented and allow them to leave before the adults are finished.

In Finland where there is a ratio of one sauna for every five individuals, it is not unusual to see elderly people into their eighties and beyond regularly using saunas. Almost ninety percent of people over the age of eighty years of age still take saunas regularly in Finland. This statistic is a true testament to the health benefits associated with sauna use. How do you think they got to be that age in the first place?

The story for older individuals is slightly different if you do not live in Finland or have not been habituated to regular sauna use. For an older individual to start taking saunas at an advanced age may be a little more difficult. The trick is to ease into the experience of regular sauna use gradually and resist the urge to make up for lost years all at once. Again, I must stress, the safety and comfort of the individual is paramount, regardless of the age.

To quote Dr. Jonathan L. Halperin, Professor of internal medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, " Moderate sauna use is safe for most older people, but diabetics and anyone being treated for heart or circulatory conditions should check with their doctor, particularly if they are taking medications" (quoted by Dorothy Berinstein in Good Housekeeping, 1995).

The health benefits from regular sauna use are well documented. Just ask any Finn over the age of eighty. We in North America and other parts of the world where saunas are not used by a large percentage of the population have a lot of catching up to do. Today is as good a day to start as any. Enjoy your sauna.

The Sauna Center - Information on health benefits, different styles and types of sauna, the safe use of saunas, how to build a sauna, medical analysis, aesthetics, and the sheer beauty of it all.
http://the-sauna-center.com

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/saunas-healthy-at-any-age-48957.html

Article Tags: Adults, Saunas, Sauna, Health Benefits, Age Groups, Family Affair, Finland, Sauna Experience

Related Articles
Related Q&A

Latest Wellness Articles
More from Emmanuel Defreitas

Spas In Thailand

By: Tom Aikins | 28/12/2009
The massage for health theme has become more than a trend; it's virtually a way of life for all these days. Such is the impact of the recently opened foot massage outlets that there seems little stemming of the tide.

Grow new hairs

By: hemraj | 28/12/2009
Incidence of pattern baldness varies from population to population based on genetic background; environmental factors do not seem to affect this type of baldness greatly. It was previously believed that baldness was inherited from the maternal grandfather. While there is some basis for this belief, both parents contribute to their offspring's likelihood of hair loss. Baldness involves the state of lacking hair where it often grows, especially on the head.

Who Will Benefit From Using Cupping Therapy?

By: NW Anti Aging Wellness Center | 28/12/2009
There are many people that use cupping therapy to help them relieve the pain the feel on a daily basis. Cupping therapy provides many benefits for pretty much anyone. If you have a health condition that is causing you pain of some type, then you will definitely benefit from using this therapy. There are many places that offer this therapy, even in Vancouver, WA., and many other places around the world.

What Should A Good Weight Management System Help You With To Lose Weight

By: NW Anti Aging Wellness Center | 28/12/2009
Are you looking for a good weight management system that will help you finally start losing weight? If you are, then you need to know what a good system will help you with. Learn now what a good system should help you with to get you on the right and permanent path of losing weight and keeping it off once you achieve your goal.

Get Rid Of Crows Feet - South Beach Skin Care

By: Keith Atherton | 28/12/2009
There are really several ways on how to get rid crows feet, wrinkling or visible fine lines. But we cannnot avoid its occurance for the more we age the higher the possibilities of having these skin problems. So the only possible ways that you can do is to lessen the possibilities or maybe lessen the lines that would appear. There are already a lot of treatments and on how to get rid of crows feet.

Healthy Weight Loss Is The Best Weight Loss

By: Brad Bahr | 28/12/2009
It is indeed strange to find numerous people who think that the easiest way for weight loss is going hungry, and though it might show a little in the early days, but you would never find this kind of radical step being approved by any doctor.

How you Can Heal Ankles and Sprains

By: John Walsh | 28/12/2009
About 25,000 folks experience a sprains in their ankles every day. And don't think that ankle sprains only happen to sportsmen and basketball players. A sprained ankle is very common with standard activities in non-athletes too. It actually can and frequently does happen in most physical activities, but can also happen by walking on uneven ground, misstepping, tripping or stepping on an object and so on... They occur to people of all ages : youngsters, teenagers, adults and the age...

Shower Head Water Filter - You Will Be Shocked to Learn You Need it More Than You Thought

By: Lauren Leddy | 27/12/2009
Your life could be greatly enhanced by the purchase and installation of a shower head water filter in each bathroom in your house. Most people have no idea how much damage they are no doubt doing to their health by inhaling the steam produced by your shower. The fact is that your body takes on thousands of times more contaminants this way than you could possibly get through drinking unfiltered tap water.

What is Edema and Can Adjustable Beds Really Help?

By: Emmanuel Defreitas | 20/09/2006 | Wellness
There have been quite a few articles written about how an adjustable bed can assist with the symptoms of an affliction called edema. I have not seen, in any of these articles, any mention of exactly what edema is and how an adjustable bed can possibly help...This article is intended to clarify both shortcomings and shed a little light on a possible easing of someone's ailment.

Saunas - Healthy at Any Age

By: Emmanuel Defreitas | 23/08/2006 | Wellness
I have always liked to say that time in the sauna is time well spent, especially if you are accompanied by family or special friends. The one thing you surely want to guarantee is that the safety and comfort of your family and guests is your utmost priority. Two crucial things to never forget are the usual caveats of no food at least one hour prior to going into the sauna, and definitely, positively, no booze. Alcohol detracts from the entire sauna experience and digestion places an enormous dem

Tossing and Turning in An Adjustable Bed? Nonsense!

By: Emmanuel Defreitas | 13/08/2006 | Health
I am going to tell you why you absolutely, definitely, beyond a shadow of a doubt, must get an adjustable bed! If you find yourself more pooped, or just as pooped, in the morning than when you went to sleep, you need an adjustable bed. Your sleep system definitely has a correlation to your capability for a good nights sleep. Your sleep system is comprised of several integral elements.

Adjustable Bed Salesmen Wanted

By: Emmanuel Defreitas | 31/07/2006 | Ask an Expert
It would be nice, and I believe quite logical if adjustable bed salespeople would try and spend some time on the web telling people about what a great product an adjustable bed truly is. I have checked an awful lot of sites that cater to adjustable bed exposure but have yet to see any comments from an actual adjustable bed sales professional.

The New Improved North American Sauna Culture

By: Emmanuel Defreitas | 27/07/2006 | Wellness
The use of the term " Sauna " as it has been referred in most of North America has truly been abused and over-used to such an extent that it has lost its true meaning. When a person mentions the word " sauna " in North America, visions of seedy bathhouses and steam rooms come to mind.

Adjustable Beds are Stress Busters

By: Emmanuel Defreitas | 24/07/2006 | Wellness
Adjustable beds are stress busting wonder machines. Quite a statement to make until you sit back and examine precisely what stress is and how an adjustable bed can help you cope with it. The first thing to keep in mind is that there are millions of people who have absolutely no stress at all and have no need whatsoever for an adjustable bed

Adjustable Beds to Relieve your Back Pain

By: Emmanuel Defreitas | 20/07/2006 | Health
Through my research, I have found that medical experts advise that the best way to ease back pain is to position yourself with your back on the floor, with pillows under your knees, hips and knees bent, with your feet raised on a chair. Now imagine yourself in that position. Looks rather awkward, doesn't it. Can you imagine doing this every time your back begins to act up? Now imagine yourself, if you can, in an adjustable bed perfectly aligned to provide the same comforting relief.