Expert Q&A: Common Sauna Questions Answered

Infrared saunas have grown in popularity as an effective alternative to traditional saunas. To help you get the most out of your experience, we’ve gathered the most frequently asked questions and provided expert answers based on High Tech Health’s over 27 years of experience.

1. What is an infrared sauna and how does it differ from a traditional sauna?

Answer:
Infrared saunas use infrared light to directly heat your body, similar to the warmth of the sun when it hits your skin, rather than only heating the surrounding air like traditional saunas. This allows for a more comfortable experience while still delivering deep therapeutic benefits and just as much detox sweat. They are also much more energy efficient (i.e. lower on your electric bill), do not build up mold inside (far infrared light has direct anti-mold properties), and can be easily placed conveniently inside on any surface (traditional saunas are best for outdoor use).

2. Are far infrared saunas safe and effective?

Answer:
Yes, far infrared saunas are extensively researched (currently over 100 human studies) and are both safe and highly effective. They gently increase core body temperature a few degrees, trigger the activation of beneficial heat shock proteins, and offer therapeutic advantages without the risks linked to near infrared. We have 10s of thousands of customers across the world who are using our sauna with only benefits!

3. How often and how long should I use my sauna?

Answer:
Research shows that infrared saunas sessions of 15 – 30 minutes every other day is ideal to maintain heat acclimation and maximize benefits. Beginners can start with 10 – 15 minute sessions and gradually work up to 30 minute sessions as comfort levels increase. Our Smart Sauna takes all the guesswork out of setting an ideal personalized protocol and sticking to it or if you get our Foundation model you can call us and speak to a product specialist who can walk you through protocol options. Traditional sauna sessions need to be much more carefully calibrated and you need to start extra low and slow.

4. What is the lowest EMF sauna and how do I tell?

Answer:
There are many claims given in the infrared sauna world and sadly most of them are either misleading or half truths. Luckily, when it comes to verifying the lowest EMF sauna, there are some simple steps you can take to vet any claims. First off, there are three components to EMF: electric fields, magnetic fields, and radio frequencies. Most sauna companies only give details on magnetic fields with no mention of the others or even worse obfuscate the truth by mentioning incorrect acronyms such as ELF which means extra low frequency (what ALL saunas operate at), not electric fields.

We have looked at every 3rd party report of EMF levels and can genuinely state that we have the lowest total electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in the industry, with patented designs minimizing all three types of fields. Below are our EMF levels where you sit in our sauna (a key point when verifying EMF levels) that you can see on our independent 3rd party report:

Maximum Electric Fields: 0.09 V/m

Maximum Magnetic Fields: 0.36 mG

Radio Frequencies: Can be turned off (i.e. not present) on both our Foundation and Smart models

5. Can saunas help with chronic pain and inflammation?

Answer:
Absolutely. Heat therapy, especially infrared saunas, can reduce systemic and chronic inflammation (perhaps better than any other therapy) and help alleviate chronic and actue pain (such as injuries, lower back pain, fibromyalgia, and arthritis).

6. Do saunas benefit cardiovascular health?

Answer:
Yes. Infrared saunas support cardiovascular function by improving blood vessel health, lowering blood pressure, reducing arterial inflammation, and enhancing circulation. Long-term sauna users have seen significantly lower rates of heart-related mortality and overall mortality. Because traditional saunas have such a high air temp, people with cardiovascular issues need to be very careful.

7. What mental and cognitive benefits do saunas offer?

Answer:
Sauna use is associated with a variety of cognitive benefits including improved mood (by reducing high cortisol levels and triggering the release of feel good endorphins), reduced risk of dementia (including up to a 66% lower incidence), and enhanced neural health. It also stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system for deep relaxation, supports sleep quality, and improves mental clarity and cognition. While both traditional and infrared saunas can help with cognitive health, traditional saunas can actually increase cortisol levels for some people because the heat is so intense.

TRS3 Relaxing in an infrared sauna by High Tech Health

8. How do saunas impact hormones?

Answer:
Particularly infrared saunas can regular stress related hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine, trigger endorphin release (peptide hormones produced in the brain that act as natural pain relievers and mood boosters), significantly boost growth hormone and prolactin levels, may have mild positive effects on thyroid hormone activity, and also enhance insulin sensitivity. Plus they help us detox hormone disrupting chemicals that can dysregulate optimal hormone levels.

9. Do I need ventilation in a sauna?

Answer:
Traditional and infrared saunas can build up with CO₂ that we breathe out and needs to be vented to let in oxygen. High Tech Health is the only sauna with a fan which actively circulates fresh air, reducing CO₂ buildup by about 46% compared to passive systems.

10. What should I wear in a sauna?

Answer:
For optimal results, minimal clothing, ideally none at all, is best to maximize infrared exposure. If preferred, breathable natural fabrics like cotton or bamboo work well. Avoid tight or synthetic materials, jewelry, and skin products that may interfere with infrared light exposure and sweating. Learn more about this topic here.

11. What is the best wood for a sauna?

Answer:
For indoor infrared saunas, woods with the lowest volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are ideal. The lowest VOC wood is European poplar and second lowest is Canadian hemlock. At High Tech Health we use these woods exclusively in our saunas without any plywood, particle board, or any other manufactured woods. For outdoor traditional saunas woods like cedar are usually best as the VOCs are anti-microbial and help them withstand the elements. Unfortunately, some people are sensitive to the high VOC content in cedar making indoor infrared saunas with low VOC woods the best choice.

Final Thoughts

We hope this list is helpful when deciding on the best sauna for you and your family. When built with care, like High Tech Health’s models, saunas are one of the best tools we have available to support acute and long term health.

If you have more questions not covered here, give us a call at the number below and one of our knowledgeable product specialists will be happy to assist!

The best in infrared Sauna therapy