Sauna bathing produces powerful effects on the body which studies have shown are well tolerated by healthy adults and children. Producing various acute, cardiovascular, and even hormonal responses, there are certainly risks and benefits to sauna bathing to be kept in mind.
If you have asthma, chronic bronchitis, or respiratory-related illnesses, you may find assistance temporarily in a sauna bath. This is because pulmonary function improves and can provide respiratory relief to these patients as well as those who may be struggling with a cold, flu, or congestion.
If you are a healthy, pregnant woman, it is considered safe to use sauna bathing however it’s preferable to discuss this with your physician. That said, academic literature does exist suggesting sauna bathing has no negative effect in “uncomplicated pregnancies of healthy women”. Thankfully, at least according to these studies, there does not appear to be a risk.
A lot of women may go to sauna bathing seeking to increase their fertility but sadly, there’s no benefit for them here. Sauna bathing does not influence fertility, positively or negatively, and won’t help one conceive.
A major benefit is the lowering of blood pressure. Multiple studies suggest sauna bathing lowers blood pressure in patients who are struggling with hypertension. Sauna bathing has also been found to improve the left ventricular ejection fraction in patients diagnosed with chronic congestive heart failure.
A lot of chronic pain patients, people suffering from joint mobility problems, and those of us with rheumatic diseases, they go to a sauna bath expecting symptoms to alleviate. Fortunately, in some, sauna bathing can cure pain and improve mobility although it is unclear how long these effects may remain.
Another great benefit, with some risks, are for people who have skin conditions. Sauna bathing, as one may guess, will never dry out the skin. People with a condition like psoriasis have found great benefit from sauna bathing. That said, the sweating can increase the itching in those with atopic dermatitis. As some skin conditions are not recommended for a sauna bath, it may be worth consulting with your physician prior to starting on any sauna schedule.
People who want to avoid sauna bathing include anyone with unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, or severe aortic stenosis. These all relate to the heart, as evidenced. Definitely consult with your physician if you intend to get started with sauna bathing as it may negatively impact your condition.
Although there are reasons to avoid sauna bathing for some of these people and with risks understood, sauna bathing is believed to be safe for most people with coronary heart disease, stable angina pectoris, or an older myocardial infarction. That said, always consult with your physician.
Despite all the benefits of sauna baths, we aren’t done with the risks yet either. Sauna bathing is unlikely to stimulate an acute myocardial infarction or sudden death, although this has been the case in some unhealthy adults or individuals who have not followed proper sauna bathing procedures. Alcohol consumption in a sauna also increases risk of hypotension, cardiac arrhythmia, and sudden death. Any sort of drug and/or alcohol consumption should be avoided.
These are far from the only risks and benefits of sauna bathing however they make an important list. If you are concerned about whether a sauna bath would be beneficial or detrimental to your health, the best person to speak to is your physician. For the vast majority of healthy adults however, sauna bathing is more than safe – the benefits can actually initiate a significant improvement in health!