Physicians Disagree on the Health Benefits of Saunas
Although many claims are made for the health benefits of
saunas, as well as for the dangers of saunas, some are just hot air.
News wires in the US told recently how a Finnish sauna can be hazardous for
pregnant women in their first trimester, and high heat of any kind is not
recommended. However, the medical doctors in Finland, where the sauna means the
same for a Finn as an apple pie for an American, have not found any data to
support the claim American colleagues have made about the health benefits of
home saunas.
"Expectant mothers may bathe in a Finnish home sauna throughout the whole normal
period of pregnancy," says Pertti Rintahaka MD. "The criteria of what is a
healthy and beneficial sauna bath stands for everybody: Do not overdo it. Stay
for only five or ten minutes at first, and no matter how long you have been
inside, step out if you feel any discomfort."
The Finns have been taking saunas for generations. There are 1.6 million saunas
in Finland, and five million people—the whole population—who go to a sauna. In
many countries people think of the sauna being similar to the Jacuzzi and that
is misleading. There is no comparison with them. The Jacuzzi exposes the body to
hot water of varying degrees. The healthy, beneficial heat of a sauna session
only exposes the skin to the hot air, without heating the inner organs.
"Many doctors for example in the USA have told their patients not to go to a
Finnish home sauna. According to my mind, this
information is not based on any scientific data. I think that information is
mainly based on beliefs and falsified information and the lack of proper
knowledge about the health benefits of home saunas," Dr. Rintahaka continues.
The TV-entertainment special "The Naked Truth about the Finnish Sauna", produced
by Kanto Productions, covers everything you have always wanted to know about the
sauna and its health benefits but were afraid to ask. That includes the myths
and mysteries of this old tradition that has been around for thousands of years
and has spread from Finland in one way or another throughout the whole world.
The host, American-Finnish-Japanese television personality, Amy Hill, will also
ask the question: Is it true that the sauna can help you lose weight?
Press Release - Kanto Productions LLC
2745 Machado Street
Simi Valley, CA 93065, USA
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