How Home Saunas can Improve PCOS Symptoms for Women

PCOS is a common hormone-related chronic health condition that impacts a large percentage of women around the world. As of now, there is no cure. However, there are ways for women to manage their symptoms so that they do not impact their quality of life. Adding exercise, diet changes, and supplemental treatments like sauna sessions can greatly reduce women's PCOS symptoms. Saunas can help women with PCOS because they can lower cortisol, increase insulin sensitivity, boost your metabolism, improve skin issues, and improve long-term heart health. Investing in a home sauna can be extremely beneficial to those with PCOS, as it can help improve the quality of your life and reduce symptoms from the comfort of your own home. At SaunaFin we offer a variety of customizable outdoor sauna kits that can make a great addition to your home. Contact us today for a quote!

Continue reading to learn more about how sauna use can improve PCOS symptoms.

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, well-known as PCOS, is an extremely common condition among women around the world, and it often goes undiagnosed. It is estimated that between 8% and 13% of reproductive-aged women around the world have PCOS, but around 70% of women with this condition will go undiagnosed. PCOS is usually characterized by high levels of androgens, irregular or absent periods, and/or polycystic ovaries, which can be seen on an ultrasound. Some of the many symptoms of PCOS include:

• Missing or irregular periods
• Excessive facial hair
• Weight gain
• Acne or oily skin
• Baldness or thinning hair
• High cortisol and stress
• Insulin resistance and prediabetes
• Infertility
• Increased hunger and thirst
• Poor sleep
• Darkened skin patches
• Skin tags

Sauna use can help manage and reduce these symptoms, sometimes even to the point where they can disappear. 

Reducing Insulin Resistance

One of the most difficult challenges of PCOS is dealing with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when the cells of your body do not respond well to insulin, which results in your pancreas creating even more insulin so that your body can effectively use glucose. The issue with this is that this can increase your risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in the future. The way to improve this is to incorporate lifestyle changes that can increase your body’s insulin sensitivity. One great way to improve insulin sensitivity is by sweating and getting your heart rate up, both of which occur in the sauna. Results are significantly better when combined with exercise as well. Increasing your heart rate can increase your insulin sensitivity, and staying in the heat can improve glucose absorption. So being able to step into the sauna on a regular basis can help lower a woman with PCOS’s risk of diabetes in the future. Reducing insulin resistance can also reduce symptoms such as darkened skin, skin tags, weight gain, and cravings.

Reducing Stress

Regular sauna use can also benefit women with PCOS due to its ability to reduce stress. Women with PCOS are known for having much higher levels of cortisol, which is our body’s major stress hormone. This can contribute to increased stress levels, anxiety, and mood swings. Sauna use has been shown to decrease cortisol levels while boosting levels of other neurotransmitters. When stepping into a sauna, your cortisol levels will naturally increase a little bit, but once you leave the sauna, your cortisol levels will drop well below the average level. Sauna use has also been associated with an increase in dopamine and serotonin levels. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter as well and is associated with happiness, memory, and sleep. Both of these can contribute to improved mood and decreased anxiety. This eases the stress that is commonly felt by women with PCOS.

Skin Health

Women with PCOS are often impacted by oily skin and acne. The increase in facial hair they experience can also increase ingrown hairs. Acne is characterized by your pores being clogged with dirt, oil, and/or sebum. But when you sit in the heat for an extended period of time, your pores can open. Sauna use promotes a great deal of sweating as well which can help the body release sebum and dirt. When your pores are unclogged, you lower the risk of getting acne. You just need to ensure that you remove the sweat, sebum, and dirt from your face after you leave the sauna. Simply washing your face well after a sauna session will do the job. 

Heart Health

One of the most important symptoms that women with PCOS need to manage is their heart health. Women with PCOS are at a much higher risk of developing heart disease as they age. This is often due to the increase in cortisol and struggle with weight loss that these women experience. Taking measures to improve your cardiovascular health is the best way to reduce your risk of cardiovascular issues and heart disease. The heart health benefits of sauna use are extremely profound. Using a sauna increases your heart rate. This is due to the vasodilation that occurs, which increases blood flow to the body and heart. This phenomenon can greatly improve cardiovascular function and health, which can also aid in weightloss as well. Overall, people who use a sauna regularly can greatly reduce their risk of developing heart disease and their risk of suffering from cardiac events such as heart attack. So sauna use can be great for women with PCOS who want to prevent their increased risk of heart disease from manifesting. 

Regain Power over PCOS with Home Saunas

PCOS can take a mental and physical toll on the women who suffer from this condition. The symptoms that these women experience are horrible and can negatively impact the quality of their lives. Given the limited treatment options available for PCOS, women must be prudent about taking measures into their own hands. There are natural remedies available to improve PCOS symptoms. Sauna use, in particular, is an exceptional way for women to treat a variety of their PCOS symptoms. Sauna use can aid in reducing insulin resistance, acne, stress, and risk of heart disease. Having a home sauna can make treatment much more convenient and accessible to these women. 

Contact SaunaFin today for more information on a custom outdoor sauna kit for your home!

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