Saunas and steam rooms are both world renowned for their health and wellness benefits. When used safely, using a sauna is an extremely enjoyable and relaxing experience but it is important to be aware of the potential dangers of misuse.
Following a few simple health and safety guidelines will ensure you next sauna experience, whether its at your local spa or you have a home sauna installed by INCA saunas, is a purely positive experience.
Here are our top safety tips for using a sauna or steam room.
Tip 1: Drink plenty of water
Using a sauna produces a deep sweat that is responsible for many of the health benefits that make them so popular. However, it can also result in significant fluid loss and it is important to replenish any lost fluids to avoid dehydration.
Make sure to drink plenty of water before and after your sauna soak and you might even want to take some water in with you. Do not drink alcohol before entering a sauna, this will only increase the risk of dehydration. You may notice that you lose a certain amount of weight during your time in the sauna. This is water weight not fat and should be replaced as soon as possible.
Tip 2: Limit your sauna time
It is recommended that you spend no more than 15-20 minutes in a traditional sauna at any one time. If you have an infrared sauna you might be able to use it safely for a little longer due to the lower ambient temperature but sticking to the 20 minute rule is best safety practice.
Prolonged exposure to high heat can lead to all sorts of negative health concerns including dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. If you begin to feel odd or ill at any point during your sauna session leave the sauna immediately.
Tip 3: Don’t use too high a temperature
Some saunas can be set to reach temperatures as high as 90 degrees Celsius but this certainly isn’t for everyone. Everyone’s body is different and if you feel uncomfortable turn the sauna down or leave the environment.
Tip 4: Avoid alcohol and drugs
We have already mentioned that you should avoid alcohol when you use a sauna as it can lead to dehydration but this is only one of the reasons that it isn’t a good idea. Using either alcohol or drugs before or during a sauna session will impede your judgement and make it harder to listen to your body and recognise when the time comes to leave.
Tip 5: Use a towel
Using a towel to sit on when in the sauna is a good idea for a number of reasons. If will protect the wood oils and other contaminants from your body for a start. It will also protect your skin from the high temperature of the sauna bench and prevent you from coming to harm. If you do feell like you might be getting burned leave immediately.