Saunas are a Finnish wellness tradition: These small rooms or spaces fill up with a very hot–as high as 185 degrees, according to the Harvard Men’s Health Watch–dry heat that may help promote relaxation and the removal of impurities from the body through sweat. Saunas are usually safe for otherwise healthy people, as long as you limit your sweat time to less than 20 minutes, cool down gradually and drink plenty of water afterward, according to the Harvard Men’s Health Watch.
Overheating
Your body’s normal cooling systems are usually sufficient to keep you from overheating during a sauna session, but if you stay in a sauna for longer than 15 to 20 minutes or if you do something to heat your body more than normal before you get in the sauna–such as drinking alcohol–you could be at risk for overheating, according to Sirpa A. Tavakoli, M.D., and William R. Yates, M.D. Tavakoli and Yates say that people who’ve been using alcohol and cocaine are at increased risk for sudden death when they use a sauna.
Dehydration
High temperatures can deplete your body of the water it needs to function properly, making you feel dizzy, weak and drained, according to the University of Alabama Medicine’s website. You may be especially vulnerable to dehydration in a sauna if you enter it when you’re already dehydrated, such as at the end of your workout. Serious dehydration can make your blood pressure drop, sometimes dangerously low, which can cause hypothermia syndromes, including heat strokes, heat cramps and a rare but potentially fatal condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Birth Defects and Fertility Problems
Pregnant women should avoid using saunas because exposure to temperatures of 100 degrees or higher can increase the risk for birth defects, according the University of Alabama. High temperatures can also affect male fertility by lowering sperm count, according to the “American Journal of Public Health,” which reports that just 20 minutes of sauna time can lower sperm count for as long as five weeks.
About this Author
Holly Roberts is an award-winning health and fitness writer whose work has appeared in health, lifestyle and fitness magazines. Roberts has also worked as an editor for health association publications and medical journals. She has been a professional writer for more than 10 years and holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in literature.
