Negative effects of the sauna and other risks - what to watch out for?

Saunas are a traditional feature of many cultures, many of which use them primarily for rest and relaxation . However, in addition to their many health benefits, sauna use also carries numerous risks and negative effects . If you fall into any of the population groups below, we recommend that you consider sauna use.

Negative effects of sauna

Sauna is not recommended for men trying to conceive . Regular sauna use reduces sperm motility , which fully recovers within six months of not using the sauna. Pregnancy and sauna is a somewhat controversial topic, in theory, high body temperature can harm the fetus, but in practice we do not observe a higher incidence of affected children (in mothers visiting the sauna during pregnancy).

We also do not recommend the sauna to people under the influence of alcohol , with low blood pressure , sick with fever , with skin inflammation , after a myocardial infarction or with unstable angina pectoris (a form of ischemic heart disease, manifested by squeezing chest pain). Athletes with acute injuries and swelling should not visit the sauna. ^{1, 2}

During a sauna visit , we lose a significant amount of sweat on average, and with that comes the risk of dehydration and mineral imbalance . They begin to manifest as sudden exhaustion , discomfort , headache and muscle cramps . At that point, you must leave the sauna and hydrate yourself . Dehydration and mineral imbalance can be prevented by proper nutrition and pre-sauna hydration. ¹

In conclusion - to take a sauna or not?

Sauna, whether Finnish, infrared or steam, is generally a health-promoting tool. The health benefits of sauna use, such as prevention of heart, vascular, brain and lung diseases, have been reliably proven many times. It can be said that regular and long-term sauna use is beneficial for almost all people. However, there are groups of the population for whom sauna use may be more harmful in their specific life stage or current health condition - therefore, we recommend that you always take your long-term and current health condition into account before using the sauna.

Resources:

1. Patrick, Rhonda P, and Teresa L Johnson. "Sauna use as a lifestyle practice to extend healthspan." Experimental Gerontology vol. 154 (2021): 111509. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2021.111509
2. Heathcote, Storme L et al. "Passive Heating: Reviewing Practical Heat Acclimation Strategies for Endurance Athletes." Frontiers in physiology vol. 9 1851. 20 Dec. 2018, doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01851