Sauna or Steam Room? That Is the Question

Both Sauna and Steam Rooms have a number of benefits that are good for one’s health, but rather than focusing on which one is better one should focus on their own needs. In short, the individual will have to make up their own mind, after all, only they know themselves.


The heat in a sauna causes the heart to beat faster, and the blood vessels will widen. This improves circulation, as blood can now move freely around the body without any resistance. This can also help with muscle soreness and improving arthritis conditions.

Studies provide evidence that men who use saunas are less likely to die from cardiovascular diseases or cardiac deaths.

Spending time in a sauna can help one lose calories, twenty minutes being the marker for weight loss of 500 calories. When in a sauna the body’s metabolism speeds up similarly to when actual exercise is done. If exercise isn’t a part of the daily routine, all the elements absorbed in the skin on a daily basis like lead, arsenic, and cadmium are still there deep inside the skin. By sweating in saunas, the human body flushes out all those toxins. The last and final benefit one could guess from saunas is that it relieves stress, because just like when you exercise, releases endorphins into your brain, endorphin reduces pain but in massive quantities is known to also reduce stress and anxiety.

Steam Rooms

Similar to saunas, having bath with steam can improve circulation, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and burn calories, though unlike saunas, staying inside steam rooms for more than fifteen minutes isn’t advised, as they lose water weight. Steam Rooms create an environment that warms the mucous membrane and encourages deep breathing. This breaks or clears up congestion inside the sinuses and lungs. Studies have shown that children with respiratory infections recovered faster when they used steam bath than those who didn’t use them. (Don’t use when feverish). Everyone knows that steam is good for the skin, but inside the room, the steam opens up the pores and rinses away any dirt and dead skin that typically result in breakouts. Continued use can result in clear and even-toned skin. Exposure to steam can also stimulate cells that fight off infection, making the individual more immune to illness.

Steam Rooms like saunas can help with sore muscles but more specifically it loosens stiff joints and can be used as a cheat warm-up for activities such as yoga, pilates, or running. Studies have also shown that steaming before exercise made the knee joints more flexible.

In Conclusion

Both Steam and Sauna Rooms are said to be dehydrating, they can help with exercise before or after but it should not be used as a substitute for exercise. Saunas can result in dry mouth, while it’s unhealthy to sit fifteen minutes or longer inside steam rooms, they are also more likely to host germs if cleaning is neglected. Nowadays germs are something, everyone, worries about, so getting an indoor steam/sauna room or DIY sauna kit is understandable. Saunas use dry heat, while Steam Rooms use steam from steam generators. So, in short, Saunas are for relaxation, heart and sore muscles or arthritis, meanwhile, Steam Rooms are for those with sinus/lung congestion or for those with skin issues. Always make sure to hydrate after using either one.

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