The distinction between a sauna and a steam room comes all the way down to the kind of warmth that they supply, explains Safdar Naueen, MD, an inner drugs physician at EHE Well being. Whereas a sauna is a dry warmth, a steam room produces—because the identify would counsel—a steamy, humid surroundings.

A sauna, with its dry warmth at temperatures of 180 to 200 levels Fahrenheit, is good for relieving sore muscular tissues1, growing blood move2, and selling sooner restoration3 after a troublesome exercise. Saunas have lengthy been a necessary well being software in Scandanavian international locations, and their advantages are beginning to go world.

In the meantime, a steam room is barely cooler, nearer to 110 to 120 levels Fahrenheit, with close to 100% humidity, making a heavy, moist feeling as quickly as you stroll in. Steam rooms, much like saunas, additionally assist with muscle soreness and restoration4.