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Infrared Sauna For Fibromyalgia: How Heat Therapy Alleviates Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Fibromyalgia makes it difficult to live a normal life. You have to endure the pain, chronic fatigue, sleepless nights, and brain fog.
The worst part? The cause of this condition remains a mystery. There is also no known cure for it, but there are ways that can help lessen the symptoms.
One of the most popular effective treatments is infrared therapy. It has been discovered that infrared heat therapy is an effective way to reduce pain, inflammation, and stiffness in people with fibromyalgia!
In this blog post, we will discuss how infrared sauna sessions help relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Contents
Fibromyalgia And Its Symptoms
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain signals and tenderness in the muscles and joints. Other common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, insomnia, and mood swings.
The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it is believed to be caused by a combination of factors including genetics, environment, trauma, and stress, lifestyle choices. Some scientists also point to the “net toxic load as the main culprit. It refers to exposure to heavy metals like mercury, lead cadmium, and arsenic.
Unfortunately, a cure is yet to be discovered, but there are therapies that aid in reducing the symptoms.
How Infrared Saunas Alleviate Fibromyalgia And Chronic Pain
Infrared radiation is a type of heat energy that is invisible to the human eye. It is one of the three types of electromagnetic radiation, along with ultraviolet and visible light.
Infrared saunas use infrared heaters to produce radiant heat. This type of heat penetrates deep into the body, heating it from the inside out. The deep-penetrating heat of infrared devices helps to offer pain relief and improve overall health.
8 Benefits Of Using An Infrared Sauna For Fibromyalgia
There are many ways that sauna therapy can help relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Here are some of the key benefits that have been shown in studies:
Provides Pain Relief For Fibromyalgia Sufferers
One of the main benefits of sauna therapy is pain reduction. The heat from the infrared rays helps to loosen up tight muscles and joints, which can help reduce pain.
Your body’s heat resistance is a kind of pain barrier that prevents excessive heat from damaging your tissues. When you get too hot in the sauna, your skin temperature rises to the “hot pain” threshold, which is a safety mechanism that prevents you from continuing to harm yourself.
The sympathetic nervous system, a sub-system of the central nervous system that is activated by external and internal stress, is activated when skin temperature rises to this level.
Slows The Disease Progression Through Inflammation Reduction
Chronic inflammation is thought to play a role in the development of fibromyalgia. Regular infrared sauna use has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body.
Helps Patients Sleep
People with fibromyalgia often experience sleep deprivation. The heat from infrared saunas can help relax the muscles and mind, which can lead to improved sleep quality.
Improves Mood
Fibromyalgia can cause mood swings due to chronic pain and fatigue. Infrared saunas have been shown to improve mood and reduce anxiety levels in people with fibromyalgia.
When you soak in a sauna and activate your sympathetic nervous system with therapeutic heat, this response stimulates the release of several pain-relieving, mood-elevating compounds including epinephrine, beta-endorphins, and serotonin.
Relieves Fatigue And Brain Fog
People with fibromyalgia often experience fatigue and brain fog. This happens when the brain is not getting the right kind of energy to function properly. The heat from infrared saunas can help improve energy levels and reduce brain fog.
Increased Blood Circulation
The improved circulation from infrared sauna therapy can help to deliver more nutrients and oxygen to the muscles and joints. This can help reduce pain and inflammation.
Reduces Toxicity Level
As mentioned, health practitioners suspect that once the overall toxicity level is heightened, symptoms also amplify. The heat from the infrared sauna helps to open up the pores and sweat out toxins like heavy metals.
Improved Skin Health
Infrared radiation is also known to have beneficial effects on the skin. It can help reduce wrinkles, improve complexion, and treat conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Effects Effects Of Thermal Therapy Combining Sauna Therapy And Underwater Exercise In Fibromyalgia Sufferers
The research, which included 45 women who had fibromyalgia, was intended to determine whether thermal treatments combined with massage therapy enhanced a person’s health.
Chronic tiredness and cognitive impairment are the most typical symptoms of FMS. The following is a summary of the findings:
After 12 weeks of thermal treatment, each patient experienced less pain, and the scores remained constant during the 6-month supplication period (87-80%).
Other Studies That Show The Positive Effects Of Infrared Heat Therapy In Treating Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Studies have shown that infrared sauna therapy is an effective treatment for relieving the symptoms of fibromyalgia and alleviating chronic widespread pain.
One study found that participants who took infrared sauna therapy for 30 minutes, three times a week, experienced a significant reduction in chronic pain, fatigue, and stiffness.
Another study found that infrared sauna therapy was effective in reducing the number of tender points in people with fibromyalgia. Tender points are specific areas on the body where people with fibromyalgia experience pain.
Recent research from Japan published in Internal Medicine found that chronic pain patients had a large reduction (nearly 70%) in pain levels after the first session of infrared sauna treatment. Pain intensity and severity also dropped significantly, with scores staying low for the duration of the study.
Why Do Fibromyalgia Sufferers Prefer Infrared Saunas Over Traditional Saunas?
When one suffers from fibromyalgia, traditional sauna heat (particularly infrared or steam) can be painful and should therefore be avoided.
It’s possible because the infrared emitters are “softer” and have lower energy consumption than typical saunas. The temperature of an infrared room can vary between 38/100 °C and 60C/140 °C.
What Is The Most Effective Infrared Light Type For Fibromyalgia?
Near, mid, and far-infrared light have all been shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of this disease.
However, the far infrared sauna was found to be the most useful treatment for fibromyalgia patients as well as people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, lowering muscular pain, digestive problems, visual issues, high blood pressure, and other symptoms of these diseases.
Because far infrared therapy for fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) may help to decrease the overall toxic burden put on your body by our contemporary lifestyle, far infrared light can result in significant improvements in health.
How To Use An Infrared Sauna To Help Relieve Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia
If you are considering using thermal therapy in a sauna to help relieve your fibromyalgia symptoms, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Always consult with your doctor before starting any new treatment.
- Start out with shorter sessions and work up to longer sessions as your body becomes used to the heat.
- Drink plenty of water before and after your session to stay hydrated.
- What do you wear in the infrared sauna? Wear light, loose clothing so you can feel the heat penetrate your skin.
- Take it easy after your session and avoid doing any strenuous activities, unless they are mild exercise routines.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Risks Associated With Using An Infrared Sauna For Fibromyalgia
There are few risks associated with using a far infrared sauna for this disease, but it is important to be aware of them:
Dehydration
Sauna therapy can cause you to lose a lot of water, so it’s important to drink plenty of fluids before and after your session.
Heat Exhaustion Or Heat Stroke
If you’re not used to being in the heat, you may start to feel ill or faint. It’s important to take breaks and drink plenty of fluids if this happens.
Sunburn
The infrared radiation from the sauna can cause sunburn, so it’s important to use sunscreen if you’re going to be outside after your session.
If you experience any adverse effects while using an infrared sauna, stop using it and consult your doctor.
Conclusion
Infrared sauna therapy is a safe and effective treatment to reduce fibromyalgia symptoms, and it can be used in combination with other treatments such as medications and physical therapy.
The benefits of infrared heat therapy, especially that of a far infrared sauna, for fibromyalgia are clear. Not only will it help to relieve your pain and inflammation, but it can also improve your sleep quality and mood.
If you are struggling with fibromyalgia symptoms, consider giving infrared sauna therapy a try! Shop from Sauna Area today.
References
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21742283/
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18703857/
- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5505738/
