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Thermotherapy
The administration of any material to the body that raises tissue temperature is known as thermotherapy. Exposure of the entire body to a higher temperature (i.e., sauna and thermal springs) can also be considered thermotherapy. As a result, blood flow, tissue metabolism, and connective tissue extensibility are all enhanced. Increased blood flow helps tissue repair by delivering protein, nutrients, and oxygen to the injured area. Heat packs, heat wraps, hot water baths, infrared modalities, Class IV laser modalities, and topical thermal lotions are all examples of thermotherapy.
The therapeutic and antiaging activity of thermotherapy is linked to hormesis. Hormesis is a scientific term for a biological molecular process that happens in your body while you're under mild stress. A number of studies demonstrate how it affects the ageing process. Heat treatment has a hormetic impact on the body. Exercising is another source of acute stress. One may enhance the impact by combining heat and exercise. During heat stress, heat shock proteins (HSP) assist in the protection of the body by scavenging free radicals and boosting cellular antioxidant capacity. HSPs also help to repair proteins that have been damaged. This allows them to reclaim their original structure and function. Proteins that are structurally intact are essential for the proper functioning of biological systems.
Sauna bathing
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Sauna promotes a feeling of well-being. Sitting in a sauna is one type of heat treatment. Being in a sauna on a regular basis, you will aid the body's cellular functions. The body releases a constant stream of endorphins after the sauna session, which lasts for many hours. Natural opioids generated by the body are known as endorphins. They're well-known for their ability to relieve pain, relax, and induce sleep. Hence, it makes one feel better. Sauna use can also aid in the treatment of depression. Patients who received whole-body heat therapy (such as infrared heaters) were much less unhappy, angry, and tense in a trial involving cancer patients.
Sauna burns calories and melts fat. The use of a sauna lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It will also raise heart rate to a level that is comparable to light aerobic activity. Sweating stimulates you to consume more water and wash toxins out of your system. All of this contributes to an increased metabolic rate. Unlike exercise, one won't be tempted to replace energy by food since sauna use does not cause hunger.
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Sauna promotes mental sharpness. Sitting in a sauna is a relaxing experience. It has been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia when done 4 times or more per week. Proteins tend to cluster together when they unwind, generating protein plaques. Alzheimer's disease is caused by the protein beta-amyloid, which disassembles and clumps in the brain. Heat shock proteins (HSPs), which are released in response to heat stress in the sauna, aid in the repair of damaged proteins. Regular sauna results in the release of HSPs which flood your bodily tissues and repair any damaged proteins they come across.
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Sauna can activate growth hormone production. One of the most intriguing effects of sauna treatment is the increase in growth hormone (GH). Growth hormone is a crucial physiological hormone that keeps tissues, joints, skin, and hair healthy. Normal sauna use, such as two 15-minute dry sauna sessions at 212°F (100°C), has been shown to increase beneficial GH releases by 500% above baseline. Longer, more frequent sauna sessions raise growth hormone levels by 1000 percent or more over baseline.
Sauna bathing has antiaging effects
Sauna usage, often known as "sauna bathing," is an old technique that has significant anti-aging benefits. Sauna bathing stresses the body by exposing it to high heat. The effects of heat stress on longevity have been demonstrated in both flies and worms, with lifespans rising by up to 15%. Sauna use has been linked to a decreased risk of age-related illnesses like cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and premature mortality in large, observational studies in humans. Men who used the sauna two to three times per week were 27 percent less likely to die from aging-related disorders such as cardiovascular disease than men who did not use the sauna. The advantages of sauna bathing are dose-dependent: Men who utilised the sauna four to seven times a week received roughly double the benefits — and were 50% less likely to die from cardiovascular-related causes. Regular sauna use lowered the likelihood of acquiring two illnesses linked to age-related cognitive decline – dementia and Alzheimer's disease – in a dose-dependent way.
Infrared sauna
Infrared saunas, unlike regular saunas, do not heat the air around you. Instead, they warm the body directly using infrared bulbs which emit electromagnetic radiation that penetrate the tissues. Infrared panels, rather than conventional heat, are used in these saunas to readily permeate human tissue, warming the body before heating the air. It is believed that the heat in an infrared sauna penetrates tissues deeper than heated air in a regular sauna. This results in a more vigorous sweating at a lower temperature. This lower air temperature can enable one to spend more time in the sauna while increasing the core body temperature by two to three degrees.
Hot thermal waters
Mineral baths or springs are bodies of water that have been warmed by the earth's geothermal process to a temperature several degrees higher than the surrounding soil. The temperature is usually above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. They often appear when there is volcanic activity or magma chambers nearby which might possibly be the cause of the water's high mineral concentration. The effects of bathing in hot spring water is similar to that being in a sauna.
General health benefits of thermotherapy with antiaging effects
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Increased collagen production that enhances elasticity and strength of the skin, and the connective tissues.
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Detoxification of harmful pollutants by sweating and increased metabolism.
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Induces a state of relaxation that reduces stress and boosts cellular regeneration.
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Promotes the maintenance of telomere length through vigorous sweating.
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Improves circulation with cardiovascular benefits.
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Reduced blood pressure.
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Reduced markers of inflammation.
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