Two reasons for this are: 1) the heat lamps are far more powerful and focused than almost all far infrared heat emitters. They are hotter and of higher wattage, often.

2) If the design we like is used, all three or four of the heat lamps are placed near each other on one wall. This further concentrates the heat source.

As a result, the lamp sauna energy penetrates inside the body quite a lot deeper and thus the infrared effects tend to be much greater.

Also, color therapy in the lamp sauna and rotating the body adds considerable power to the sauna experience, as described below. One can easily feel these differences if one has been in both near and far infrared saunas.

For more information, visit drlwilson.com

Near infrared saunas are electromagnetically safer than far infrared saunas. All electrically-powered saunas emit a small quantity of electromagnetic radiation due to their 110-volt wiring. This cannot be avoided, but is not a big problem with saunas.

However, most far infrared saunas emit harmful electromagnetic fields of a microwave type. This has to do with the frequencies they are supposed to emit in the 4-15 micron range. This is similar to the emissions from microwave ovens, cell and portable phones, although saunas emit much less than most telephones.

Some people, especially if one is ill, do not handle this radiation well. It heats the tissues too fast. Also, it damages the tissues a bit, though not significantly in most cases. If one is very ill, however, this could be a factor in one’s healing.

Some companies claim to shield their far infrared emitters, but they cannot get rid of this radiation, as it is a feature of far infrared emission. The only way this type of sauna will not emit a small microwave field is if, in fact, the emitters are not putting out much far infrared radiation. In other words, it really cannot be avoided if the unit is actually putting out far infrared in the amount that they claim it is doing.

In contrast, the lamp sauna emits much less harmful microwave radiation because it does not emit much far infrared.

For more information, visit drlwilson.com.

Relaxing in a backyard hot tub may be fun, but potential dangers lurk. A new study shows that as the popularity of hot tubs has increased, so has the number of injuries.

Researchers analyzed emergency room records from 1990 until 2007. During that period, the number of nonfatal hot tub, whirlpool, and spa-related injuries increased by 160%, from about 2,500 in 1990 to more than 6,600 in 2007.

Most injuries happened to people who were aged 17 and older, though some of the serious injuries, including near-drownings, were more likely to involve young children. Overall, the most common injury was a laceration. Body parts most affected were the lower extremities and the head. The most common ways people injured themselves were through slips and falls.

In their conclusion, study authors called for more research into what is causing the injuries. They also encouraged people to follow safety precautions, including:

• Put slip-resistant surfacing in and around the hot tub.
• Limit time and temperature of hot tub exposure to 10 to 15 minutes at no more than 104° F.
• Comply with suction cover standards.
• Parents should keep hot tubs covered and locked when not in use, consider installing a fence or barrier around the area, and set rules prohibiting jumping and diving.

For more information, visit webmd.com.

Are you looking for some everyday tips for for coping with fibromyalgia symptoms? You’re not alone. More than 10 million Americans suffer daily with the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia.
There is no “pill” to end your symptoms. But there are ways of managing them so they don’t disrupt your busy life as much.

Why Is Coping With Fibromyalgia Important?

Learning how to self-manage fibromyalgia symptoms with medications, diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits is vital to improve your mood, improve your sleep, and get relief from pain. For instance, many people with fibromyalgia are often caring for others, either by parenting or care giving for an older loved one. Yet they allow little time to take care of their own health and well-being. This is a problem because a chronic disease such as fibromyalgia comes with a whole set of limitations. Those limitations stem from fibromyalgia tender points, chronic fatigue, and ongoing pain and stiffness.

The limitations of fibromyalgia can be lessened if you get the facts. Learn more about the disease and how it’s treated. Seek the latest information on fibromyalgia and lifestyle habits. Get answers to your questions and take proactive steps to focus on your health. With increased support, you can get your life and priorities in order.

Here are some simple coping strategies you can use to help yourself live well with fibromyalgia:
• Minimize stress in your life. Some experts find that when fibromyalgia patients reduce stress in their lives, they also experience a reduction in depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Sleep becomes more restful and their minds relax. Because they feel more in control, the symptoms that were once immobilizing subside, and quality of life improves.
• Remove yourself emotionally from stressful situations. Work at tempering your emotions as problems come up throughout the day. Instead of seeing every crisis as “horrible,” learn to view life’s interruptions as “inconvenient, but tolerable.” You will find that when you see life as something that you can easily handle, you will not feel overpowered when trouble comes.
• Make job site modifications. Budget your time, follow your daily “to do” lists, and limit your outside commitments on work days.
• Work to improve communication skills. Open and honest communication helps decrease conflict between you and your spouse, family, friends, and co-workers.
• Learn to say “no.” It’s important to take a firm stand, say “no,” and mean it.
• Keep a daily journal. Writing in a journal every day can become a great tool for self inquiry.. Looking back over your journal may enable you to see any emotional or physical problems that have contributed to your sleep problem.
• Soak in a warm bath. Soaking in a warm bath, hot tub, or sauna or standing under a warm shower will serve two purposes. First, it will help you to relax tense muscles, reduce pain, and move more easily. Second, some studies show that the warm, moist heat may raise levels of endorphins and decrease levels of stress hormones. There may be an additional benefit as well. Health care professionals that specialize in sleep disorders have found that a warm bath before bedtime can help sleep be more restful.
• Exercise regularly. According to the Arthritis Foundation, exercising regularly is important to ease symptoms of fibromyalgia.
• Eliminate or reduce caffeine intake. Caffeine is one of the few food products that can induce a stress response. Too much caffeine can greatly increase nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia.
• Use mind/body tools for relaxation. There are many relaxation techniques you can use to ease daily tension, anxiety, and pain. You might learn to relax with guided imagery, visualization, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, deep abdominal breathing, self-hypnosis, or biofeedback.
• Evaluate your sleep hygiene. Make sure your body is totally prepared for rest.
• Consider joining a fibromyalgia support group. Support groups are geared toward meeting the needs of people with fibromyalgia.
• Make time for you each day. Work for an overall lifestyle balance. Make time to do the things you “want” to do as well as the things you “have” to do. The task of coping with pain and fatigue each day makes it necessary to keep your priorities in order so you have the energy to reach your daily goals.

For more information, visit webmd.com.