There are admittedly mixed opinions on using saunas and steam rooms as a hangover cure. A lot of people will say that sweating can be a great way to heal the body followed a particularly tough night out. Alternatively, there are others who will say using a sauna for a hangover is bad news as it could cause dehydration which is exactly what your body doesn’t need. Supporting this, a study conducted in the late 1980s also shows that in recovering in the hangover phase, a person may also be exposed to cardiac arrhythmias.
In an effort to try and get to a definitive answer, we want to make sure we share all perspectives on this very important question. If you decide to use a sauna while you’re experiencing a hangover, know when is the right time. A hangover usually occurs from binge drinking and may include symptoms like headaches, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, lethargy, and diarrhea. There can also be psychological symptoms including a heightened sense of depression and anxiety.
The great thing about using a sauna is that it can relieve so much of these symptoms. For this reason, a lot of people want to use an infrared sauna recovering from a hangover. These symptoms can last a long time for some people, with studies estimating the cognitive deficits to last as long as three days following binge drinking. That means, assuming you go out Saturday night and have a little bit too much to drink, you can still be feeling the wear-and-tear until Tuesday.
Should you choose to use a sauna, be safe. Even if you’re sitting in infrared heat, to your body, this is still exercise. Sauna can induce relaxation and relieve stress which can be beneficial but it’s exercise you need to be careful with. Your sympathetic nervous system kicks in the moment you shut the door. A general rule of thumb you can use is, if you feel so bad that you’re unable to exercise, you probably shouldn’t be in a sauna.
Also, if you’re just waking up and you’re feeling hung over, this is not the time to go dipping into a sauna. Instead, ease your way into the day. Start off with some water, food, and aspirin. Hydrate yourself. You may even wish to hit the gym before entering the sauna for a quick workout. Ideally, you’ll want to wait somewhere between four and eight hours after waking before getting into a sauna. This way, you’re hydrated and accustomed to your environment. Chances are the symptoms are not overwhelming at this point, either. Just remember to take it slow.
Saunas can be extremely therapeutic in curing a hangover however they need to be used correctly. Generally, if you’re not used to a sauna environment, we may avoid it altogether. If you’re accustomed to it, we recommend staying thoroughly hydrated throughout your stay. Bring in a bottle of water and listen to your body.
For steam rooms and infrared saunas customized to your liking and to remedy symptoms of a hangover, get yours at Steam Sauna. All it takes is 20-30 minutes and a weight will be lifted off your shoulders. Recover quicker in a Steam Sauna infrared sauna and get back to living a balanced existence with wellness prioritized.