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[A662]Are Saunas Good For You

by Amy Nutt, Amy

Most medical practitioners advise against using saunas during pregnancy. As per the advice of the ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) saunas are not advisable during pregnancy for more than 15 minutes at a time – and if you can do without it, all the better.

It is believed that the high temperatures in the environment of a sauna could interfere negatively with the development of the fetus, especially in the first two trimesters of pregnancy. High temperatures are particularly harmful during the first twelve weeks of development of the fetus and hence, any such exposure should be totally avoided during this time.

Doing anything that would cause a pregnant woman’s core temperature to rise is considered to have the potential harming the unborn baby. Even running a fever can result in harm to an unborn fetus, so deliberately raising body temperature is certainly ill-advised for a pregnant woman.

The potentially damaging impact of heat on your unborn child is not the only reason you should avoid using a sauna during pregnancy. Another reason why you should not use saunas during pregnancy is because it might induce dizziness and utter exhaustion, which are harmful for you and the baby.

Alternatives To Sauna
If you are totally addicted to saunas, you will need to find alternative ways to enjoy the heat without risking the healthy development of your unborn child. For de-stressing, you could use body massages which would help your muscles unwind and relax. There are many professional massage parlors which you will find especially welcome during this time. There are even licensed massage therapists who specialize in pregnancy massage techniques. Alternatively, you could ask your partner to give you a massage every now and then when.

If what you really miss about the sauna is the heat, you could try taking a hot tub bath, of course taking care not to use very high temperatures and not to stay in the hot bath water for more than 15 minutes. Even a short warm bath can go a long way toward relaxing your body and your mind.

There are many other ways to relax and make you feel good. Yoga can be an excellent means of relaxing. Additionally, practicing the breathing exercises that you need to learn for the birth of your baby anyway can be very relaxing. Taking long walks is also an excellent way to relax and distress without putting your unborn baby at risk. When it comes to saunas and pregnancy, it is much better to wait until after the baby is born. Instead of choosing to stick with your sauna habit, choose to be safe and avoid any risks to yourself or your baby.

We should first clarify that cheap saunas are not necessarily cheaply made saunas. There is a subtle difference that you need to be clear upon. Going to somewhere like Ebay for example, could allow you to pick up a highly quality sauna at a bargain price. Under these circumstances, I think that no one could argue that you had a good deal.

So if we take a bargain out of the equation, what constitutes a cheap sauna?

The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) in Canada have investigated and found fault with a number of cheap imported saunas. Amongst other things they discovered heaters running very hot and smoking in one of these devices. In addition, there were potential electric shock and fire hazards associated with the use of these saunas.

So from a safety point a view, there is no question that here are definite risks to buying cheap saunas. And this assumes that either you or whoever you choose to install your sauna know exactly what they are doing. So what other things should you be thinking about when considering buying a cheap sauna?

One thing that is an easy thing to spot is the type of wood that the sauna is made of. Traditionally, cedar wood is the material of choice for high quality saunas. Cedar wood is a soft wood that resists cracking and splitting caused by the heating up and cooling down in the sauna. No sauna wood lasts longer than cedar wood. In addition, Cedar wood contains aromatic oils that are known for their healing and cleansing properties to aid detoxification during the sauna.

If a cheap sauna is not made of cedar, then you need to make some investigation into the wood that it is made of. If nothing else, any sauna that is not made of cedar is not likely to last as long. Nor is it likely to have any of the beneficial properties that cedar wood exhibits.

Many other sauna manufacturers produce saunas made from hemlock, spruce, fir or other low cost, low quality woods and sell them as "hypoallergenic" wood. The real reason they are using these woods is that they cost less by the board foot as compared to cedar. The hypoallergenic only lasts a few sessions until the mould and bacteria starts to grow unchecked on the moist, warm white wood. Then the only way to clean the sauna is with harsh chemicals which you won't want to breathe while sitting in your sauna. There is absolutely no reason not to treat yourself to the quality and luxury of cedar wood in your sauna.

Article Source : Pg. 26

About Author

Both Amy Nutt & Charlie Cory are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Amy Nutt has sinced written about articles on various topics from Culture and Society, Recreation and Sports and Women. Saunafin specializes in the factory direct sales of Infrared Saunas, Steam Showers, Kits, Pre-Fab Saunas, Sauna Heaters and more.. Amy Nutt's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.

Charlie Cory has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pregnancy Problems, Computers and The Internet and Education. Before you invest your hard earned cash on a start your research at. Charlie Cory's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.