Chances are when you envision an infrared sauna blanket, images of celebrities wrapped cozily in the contraption come to mind due to their recent rash of endorsements of the product that even caused you to wonder about their benefits.
As it turns out, infrared sauna blankets harness the same healing electromagnetic powers of the sun, minus the harmful UV rays, which makes it beneficial for the physically active, beauty gurus, and more looking to heal their bodies on a deeper level.
In fact, larger infrared therapy devices can be seen in use by doctors, physical therapists, and more in rehab centers, sports rehab centers, spas, and more to assist their patients with rejuvenation and recovery.
Research shows that infrared therapy differs from other forms of heat therapy in that its low emittance heat penetrates deeper into the tissues for quick and even healing throughout the body, thus providing many reasons to own an infrared sauna blanket, which we will get into next.
7 Reasons to Own an Infrared Sauna Blanket
- It Enables You to Reap the Benefits of Infrared Heat Therapy At-Home
- It Relaxes the Muscles, Joints, Arteries, and Helps With Pain Management
- It Helps Reduce Water Weight Gain and High Blood Pressure
- It Helps Make Muscle Recovery Quicker After Training
- It Helps With Wound and Injury Repair
- It Helps Improve Skin Issues
- It Improves Sleep Quality
It Enables You to Reap the Benefits of Infrared Heat Therapy At-Home
Infrared heat therapy products come in various forms, including whole-room saunas, which you sit in and relax while soaking up the environment’s heat, similar to traditional saunas.
However, an infrared sauna blanket is light and portable, so it enables you to easily receive healing anywhere throughout your home for added comfort.
It’s also easy to use by simply folding the huge, heating pad-looking device around your body.
Since it puts the heating source closer to your skin as opposed to being in a heated room, it also allows for deeper penetration of your tissues for maximum results.
When you are ready to use the blanket, simply set it up on your bed, couch, or even the floor and more, and then preheat the blanket.
Once the device has reached the desired temperature, wrap yourself inside the cozy, warm blanket to start receiving its benefits.
You can also play around with the heat settings to determine the best temperature for you.
However, if you are new to using an infrared sauna blanket, experts recommend beginning your therapy on the lowest heat setting and then slowly increasing the temperature once you are comfortable to avoid adverse reactions, such as heat stroke, dehydration, and more, which can shorten your session and hinder your healing.
Many manufacturers stress that you should also wear long, breathable clothing socks to avoid heat sensitivity, skin irritation, and more. You should also avoid wearing metal jewelry while using the device because it can become too hot and burn your skin.
If you have a health condition, you should avoid using a sauna blanket until you consult your doctor to ensure it won’t cause further complications.
An infrared sauna blanket is also easy to clean by wiping it down with a germ-killing wipe or another sanitizing solution, and then you can simply store it out of sight for later use.
It Relaxes the Muscles, Joints, and Arteries, and Helps With Pain Management
An article published by News Medical reports that infrared’s calming heat reaches deep below the skin’s surface into the muscles, nerves, arteries, and more, where it helps loosen stiff fibers, promoting overall relaxation.
In doing so, it also increases the release of endorphins, which help combat stress and boost mood, which also supports a state of tranquility.
Many users likened the after-effects of an infrared sauna blanket to that of a hot yoga session, which leaves you feeling glowy, loosened up, and satisfied.
According to the article, infrared heat also helps relax the arteries and prevents platelet clumping in the veins by increasing nitric oxide levels, thus also helping to improve circulation and “feel good” chemicals.
Meanwhile, more information published by Arthritis.org shows that heat therapy also helps loosen stiff joints caused by arthritis and more for improved comfort and mobility.
It also helps alleviate pain caused by muscle strain, sciatica, tendonitis, surgical incisions, and more by warming up sore or fatigued joints and muscles, which causes the vessels to open up, thus allowing more blood and nutrients to be delivered to the tissues for better circulation and repair.
It Helps Your Body Detox
Though an infrared sauna blanket emits low-level heat, it penetrates deep into the tissues, which warms the body and you to sweat, which several studies show helps rid various industrial chemicals, heavy metals, PCBs, and bacteria from your system.
Thus, the longer your infrared therapy session, the more you will sweat, releasing more built-up toxins from your fatty tissue.
In the meantime, an article produced by the Harvard School of Public Health reports that the loss of toxins from your body also helps strengthen your immune system, which supports the growth and activity of different white blood cells, thus protecting your other cells from infection, disease, allergies, inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and more for greater health and well-being.
It Helps Reduce Water Weight Gain and High Blood Pressure
Though various reports show that dietary sodium is good for fluid balance, physiological function, and cellular homeostasis, too much of it can cause water weight gain and bloating.
Furthermore, according to one report, when there is fluid retention in the body, it increases blood flow to the heart, which causes it to work harder.
It also causes the vessels to harden after a while due to the added pressure put on them, resulting in high blood pressure, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Too much salt in your system can also damage the kidneys, aorta, and bones.
However, research shows that sweating, such as the sweating caused by infrared sauna blankets, can be sufficient to cause excessive sodium/electrolyte imbalances and restore proper body function.
Meanwhile, another study conducted on over 25 obese participants showed that infrared heat therapy helped reduce abdominal fat percentage and circumference when applied to the midsection. However, the results were more profound when combined with exercise.
Another study shows that infrared heat therapy also improved the appearance of cellulite in a control group of 10 female participants when combined with regular physical fitness, thus suggesting that it can also be used as part of a healthy lifestyle to improve fat loss and body aesthetics.
It Helps the Muscles Recover and Repair Quicker After Training
Several reports show that infrared heat therapy also helps the muscles recover and repair quicker after training.
During one study published by the US National Library of Medicine, 10 healthy, physically active participants engaged in a 1-hour long hypertrophic strength training session, which included isometric leg and bench presses, after which time they were exposed to 30 minutes of infrared heat therapy, resulting in relaxation of the muscles and an increase in growth hormones and thus muscle repair following.
The study further shows that infrared heat therapy may also help boost endurance and metabolism long after your workout by keeping your VO2 and heart rate elevated, thus enabling you to prolong the effects of your activity for improved results.
In the meantime, some personal trainers recommend also participating in a light infrared heat session before your training to help warm up the muscles, so they flex more fuller during your workout for optimum performance and decreased risk of injury.
It Helps With Wound and Injury Healing
One of the main benefits of infrared heat therapy is it improves cell regeneration, which studies show provides wound-healing effects, including TGF-Bi secretion, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen fiber generation, which are play a key role in wound healing.
Some studies show that infrared therapy also helps with brain injury from trauma or stroke.
According to one study, low power infrared therapy applied to patients over a prolonged course of treatment, which included 10 minutes of targeted therapy over 4 to 60 months, provided a significant improvement in sustained memory, attention, and executive functions in the test group for as long as they continued the treatment.
Meanwhile, another, more promising, study featured in the same publication showed that infrared heat therapy administered to veterans with traumatic brain injury from the impact of blasts and individuals with TBI from motor vehicle accidents showed that after 10 to 20 treatments, many participants experienced a resolution in persistent headaches, irritability, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
The researchers accredit these improvements to the activation of neurodegenerative processes, growth factors, and other genes, which was also demonstrated in previous TBI studies involving animals.
Meanwhile, there are also numerous clinical trials in the works by the Medical College of Wisconsin to analyze whether infrared heat can also promote retinal healing and improve visual function following retinal injury by enhancing mitochondrial function, increasing cell energy metabolism, and simulating oxidative protective pathways, and more in people with diabetes.
It Helps Improve Skin Issues
Studies show that infrared heat also boosts circulation to the skin and tissues, which also helps with scar tissue repair, sun damage repair, and more.
In fact, one study involving 23 participants who underwent 30 sessions of large area and full-body infrared heat applications showed that at the end of testing, the treated subjects had a significant improvement in skin complexion, skin smoothness, and collagen density.
Another study shows that it does so by increasing the production of stem cells, which allows for increased tissue repair and healing.
Dermatologists even use it in their practices to help improve the appearance of wrinkles, burns, acne scars, and UV scars.
It can also be used to help decrease depigmentation by hindering autoimmunity and stimulating melanocyte growth in vitiligo and other pigmentary conditions and more.
It Improves Sleep Quality
A sauna blanket used right before bedtime can also help promote better sleep by relaxing tight, achy muscles and releasing mood-enhancing hormones that help ease your mind and prepare your body for deep rest.
Sauna blankets also act similar to exercise in that they increase the heart rate, which one report shows also helps promote quality sleep.
Good sleep also helps improve nerve cell communication, heart function, metabolism, and more, which, thus, also enables you to get more out of your sauna blanket for improved results.
As a general rule, use the blanket about 10 to 15 before bedtime to allow your muscles to become fully heated, and then aim for at least 6 to 7 hours of sleep afterward for maximum recovery.
Best Infrared Sauna Blankets
| Heat Healer Infrared Sauna Blanket | HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket | Vortix Infrared Sauna Blanket |
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| The Heat Healer Infrared Sauna Blanket is a perfect investment for those into self-care and just want to rejuvenate their mind and body at home. | The HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket is a premium model for those who know the benefits of an infrared sauna blanket and simply want the best. | The Vortix Infrared Sauna Blanket is a great benefit to users looking for a device to help with their post-workout recovery. |
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Final Thoughts
So as you can see, there are many reasons to own an infrared sauna blanket, and they can also be used by just about anyone to improve overall health.
However, if you have a health condition, such as diabetes, heart issues, high blood pressure, and more, it is advised that you consult your doctor before using a sauna blanket because it may not be safe for you to use.
Likewise, if you have an injury or are pregnant, you should also get your doctor’s permission before using a sauna blanket because it can pose a risk to your unborn child.
You should also be sure to drink plenty of water while using the blanket to help prevent dehydration, and stop using the device if you begin to feel lightheaded, dizzy, or weak, etc., because it can be a sign of heat exhaustion.
Sauna blankets also come in a variety of sizes, so be sure to check the measurements to ensure it is designed to fit you.
In the meantime, once you have purchased a sauna blanket, you can safely use it up to 3 times per week to help save time and costs on expensive trips to the spa, which makes it a great investment.
