A lot of people have heard that using a sauna is good for their health. In fact, adding it to one’s wellness routine is the most common reason behind using a sauna. But what about using a sauna while sick?
Can a sauna help you recover from a common cold? Can it affect other illnesses?
There are plenty of myths online surrounding the capabilities of a sauna session. Some claim that sauna use can help you sweat out an illness. Others even go as far as to claim that saunas can kill viruses.
The truth is that using a sauna when sick may help some people feel more comfortable. However, that is only true for some, and it typically only works with mild common cold symptoms.
But while a sauna can help with the cold and flu, it can’t cure infections. Even worse, using it when having a fever or suffering from a severe illness can make things worse.
Can You Use a Sauna While Sick?
The short answer is that you can, but not always. It depends on the type of sickness, as well as on how your body reacts.
For a light case of the common cold, a sauna may not help treat it, but it could make you comfortable. However, even this is not guaranteed.
Perhaps your body would not enjoy exposure to the sauna heat. In that case, using a sauna is simply not for you. The best you can do in this situation is listen to your body and do what feels good.
Mild congestion is different from having a high fever. In the case of a fever, using a sauna can make things worse. When you have a fever, your body is actively fighting a virus.
Exposing yourself to heat will make it sweat, desperately trying to cool you off.
In other words, you would be exposing your body to stress on two fronts. This is why you must be careful about when you use a sauna. Safety should always come above all else.
When a Sauna May Help
Now, let’s talk about the situation where a regular sauna may actually help. First, note that it doesn’t matter if you are using a portable sauna or a regular sauna.
Both portable and traditional saunas do the same job. Traditional can be more intense, however, with greater heat.
Regardless of which option you go for, note that the sauna mostly helps with relaxation. For example, heat can help relieve general body aches which commonly follow mild illnesses. It can also help reduce stress.
Finally, a sauna can also offer temporary congestion relief. This is thanks to its warm air or steam, depending on whether you use an infrared sauna or a steam sauna.
Either way, the warmth can ease congestion in the nasal passages and make it easier to breathe. However, the effects are usually only temporary.
Think of them more as comfort measures rather than treatment for any illness.
When You Should Skip the Sauna
Another important thing to know is when to avoid the sauna. This is important because using a sauna under the wrong circumstances can make you feel worse. It also increases the risk of dehydration.
First, note that a sauna session can be very intense for the body. Even when you are in perfect health, experts recommend caution. If you are feeling under the weather, your body is already weakened by the illness.
You should definitely skip the sauna if you have a fever, as your body temperature is already elevated. Using a sauna will just expose you to more heat, as mentioned before. This places additional stress on the body while it is trying to fight off the virus and heal.
You should also avoid the sauna if you suffer from dehydration. This is common when people are sick. Illness often causes sweating, and sweating causes fluid loss. With the loss of fluids, you also lose certain elements when sweating.
Sodium is the primary electrolyte lost in sweat, with smaller amounts of potassium and other minerals. This is why you should replenish fluids and, when needed, electrolytes during illnesses.
Jumping into a sauna is also not recommended if you are feeling weak or dizzy. These are symptoms that your body is exhausted from combating the illness. Once again, using a sauna would only place it under more stress, rather than help.
Lastly, if you have a contagious illness, you should avoid public saunas. Visiting them only risks spreading the infection to others.
Ideally, for most illnesses, you should focus on rest and hydration first. These are often more beneficial than exposing yourself to additional heat.
Common Myths About Using a Sauna While Sick
One last thing that needs addressing is the myths about using a sauna while sick. Like most other myths, they likely originated from a misunderstanding of the facts. But believing them could lead the user to a wrong conclusion. This, in turn, could lead to some poor decisions.
For example, it is a common misconception that you can use a home sauna to “sweat out a virus.” There is no evidence that supports this claim.
Sweating is your body’s cooling mechanism, and its role is to regulate temperature. Dealing with viruses is what your white blood cells do.
The misunderstanding emerged because people noticed that sweating follows a high fever. They may believe that sweating is a method of getting better.
In truth, it is a consequence of your body trying to regulate temperature during a fever. Viruses don’t leave the body through sweat, so sweating them out is impossible.
Also, raising your body temperature in a sauna is not the same as having a fever. During a fever, your body’s internal thermostat, controlled by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, is changed by the immune system.
When using a sauna, it is the external temperature that increases. While this can raise your body temperature and cause sweating, this is not a method of fighting a virus.
It simply comes as a consequence of it. As such, raising the body temperature artificially through a sauna does not help when fighting a cold or flu.
FAQ
Is it safe to use a sauna while sick?
Sometimes, but not always. It mostly depends on your symptoms and the severity of the illness. If the illness is mild, you can use a sauna to increase comfort and relax, but not during high fevers.
Can a sauna cure a cold?
No. Sauna bathing may temporarily ease certain symptoms, like a mild sore throat or congestion in the nasal passages. However, it cannot kill viruses, sweat them out, or cure a cold.
Should I use a sauna if I have a fever?
In most cases, no. Heat exposure could place additional strain on your body while it is already busy fighting the fever.
Can I use a public sauna if I’m sick?
It is best not to. As discussed, if you’re sick, you likely shouldn’t be using the sauna at all for your own safety. Using a public one not only puts you in danger, but also others who might get infected.
Conclusion
While using a sauna while sick may seem like a good idea, it is usually not. As we have seen, sauna use may provide temporary comfort, at best. This only works for those with very mild symptoms.
Remember that the sauna’s main job is to generate hot air that increases the temperature. It is not a medical tool meant to be used for treating any illness.
The best it can do is help with mild cold symptoms like a scratchy throat. However, if you use it while experiencing more serious symptoms, it can have a negative effect.
A high fever already causes your body temperature to go up. This leads to sweating and potentially dehydration. Using a sauna in this condition would only cause your body to lose fluids faster.
Sweating is only a way for your body to cool itself, not a method of fighting viruses. You would be much better off if you simply rest and hydrate regularly. This will supply your body with energy and resources needed to fight its own battle.
But, if you are only suffering from mild symptoms and wish to make yourself more comfortable, a portable sauna will do the trick. Check out our list of the best portable sauna tents, as larger ones provide the most comfort.
