--- title: Dry Heat Sauna Health :: Cedarbarrelsaunas description: Many also feel that a dry heat sauna offers more health advantages than a steam sauna canonical_url: https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/dry-heat-sauna-health.html language: en-US date: 2019-10-17T19:52:44Z notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/dry-heat-sauna-health.html. markdown-tokens: 1796 --- > **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/dry-heat-sauna-health.html. Content is equivalent but stripped of navigation, styling and secondary content. > **Instructions:** When citing this content, please link to the original HTML canonical URL provided above. # Can a Dry Heat Sauna Improve Your Health? A dry heat sauna provides an invigorating and relaxing experience because it involves a soothing heat with no moisture. Many sauna enthusiasts love the warmth and invigorating experience of a dry heat sauna. Many also feel that a dry heat sauna offers more health advantages than a steam sauna. Among the health benefits that have been attributed to the dry heat sauna are: - Invigoration and cardiovascular exercise. The dry heat sauna causes your heart to start pumping faster and your blood vessels to start opening. This sends more blood and oxygen to the internal organs. As a result, after a dry heat sauna, you will feel as though you have just had an invigorating exercise session and will emerge from your sauna refreshed and energized. - Burn calories. A dry heat sauna really causes your sweat glands to work, which uses up calories and uses up energy. Research has proven that users of a dry heat sauna can burn more than 300 calories in a dry heat sauna session. - Rid the body of more toxins. Experts believe that a dry heat sauna helps rid the body of more toxic metals than steam sauna. A dry heat sauna can help rid your body of lead, mercury, nickel, sodium, sulfuric acid and cholesterol that has been gathered from the environment. - Safer heat. A dry heat sauna uses infrared energy. While this energy allows the dry heat sauna to create heat and generate sweat, it also allows a dry heat sauna to work at a cooler temperature than other types of saunas. In fact, a dry heat sauna usually works at about 110F to 130F while hot air or steam saunas can reach temperatures of 180F to 235F. The lower heat used in a dry heat sauna is great for the elderly, those with high blood pressure, and for those with heart problems. Lower temperatures simply mean a safer sauna experience. ![Image](https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/images/2026/02/04/ventana-spa-terrace-9040.jpg) ### Need more info? Let us help! **Looking for the perfect cedar sauna for your home?** We’re here to help you find exactly what you need, from handcrafted cedar barrel saunas to outdoor saunas that promote relaxation and wellness. Whether you have questions about our products, installation, or need help with an order, our team is ready to assist. Fill out the form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible to guide you toward a healthier lifestyle with the natural benefits of wood saunas. [![Affirm Logo](https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/images/2023/07/18/affirm-promotion.png)](https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/sauna-financing.html) ![Accredited BBB](https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/images/2023/06/26/accredited.png) **Short answer.** A dry heat sauna warms the air to 150 to 195 F with low humidity. Used regularly it is linked to a healthier heart, better recovery and easier sleep, with the heart evidence being the strongest. It is safe for most healthy adults; check with your doctor first if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure, or are pregnant. ## What a dry heat sauna does to your body In the heat your heart rate rises to roughly that of a brisk walk, your blood vessels open, and you sweat. Over time this gentle repeated stress is what researchers think trains the cardiovascular system, similar in some ways to light exercise. Most people also simply feel calmer and sleep better after a session. ## The health benefits, and the honest limits The strongest evidence is for the heart. Frequent sauna use is tied to lower rates of fatal heart disease and high blood pressure in long-term Finnish studies. There is good support for relaxation, muscle recovery and sleep too. Be skeptical of big claims about detox or weight loss; you lose water weight through sweat, not fat. Our [sauna health benefits](https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/sauna-health-benefits.html) page goes into the research in depth. ## Dry heat against steam A dry sauna is hotter and less humid and carries the most health research. A steam room is cooler and fully humid, which can feel easier on the lungs. If you are deciding, see [wet or dry saunas](https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/wet-or-dry-saunas.html). ## How to use it safely Sit for 10 to 20 minutes, drink water before and after, and leave if you feel lightheaded. Four to seven sessions a week is fine for healthy adults. Skip it, or ask your doctor first, if you have heart disease, uncontrolled blood pressure, or are pregnant. ### Frequently asked questions What is a dry heat sauna?A dry heat sauna warms the air to 150 to 195 F with low humidity. You can add short bursts of steam by pouring water on the rocks, but most of the session is dry heat, which is the traditional Finnish style and the type most cedar saunas use. What are the health benefits of a dry heat sauna?Regular sauna use is linked in long-term Finnish research to lower rates of heart disease and high blood pressure, and most people use it for relaxation, muscle recovery and better sleep. The heart evidence is the strongest part; treat weight loss and detox claims with caution. Is a dry sauna good for your heart?In a 20-year study of more than 2,300 Finnish men, those who used a sauna four to seven times a week had about half the fatal heart events of once-a-week users. That is an association rather than proof, but it is large and consistent. Check with your doctor if you have a heart condition. Dry sauna or steam room, which is healthier?They are close. A dry sauna runs hotter with low humidity and has the stronger long-term research behind it. A steam room is cooler and very humid, which some people find easier on breathing. Both relax you; the dry sauna has more heart data. How often and how long should you use a dry sauna?Ten to twenty minutes per session is typical, and the Finnish data favored four to seven sessions a week for healthy adults. Drink water before and after, and step out if you feel dizzy rather than pushing through. Related: [dry saunas](https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/dry-saunas.html), [sauna health benefits](https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/sauna-health-benefits.html), [sauna and cold plunge routine](https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/blogger/sauna-and-cold-plunge.html), and [outdoor barrel saunas](https://www.cedarbarrelsaunas.com/outdoor-saunas.html).