Health Effects of Taking a Sauna

Taking a sauna exposes your body to dry heat at very high temperatures. Saunas can have some positive health benefits for people. However, there are some potentially negative health effects associated with saunas, particularly for people with certain health conditions.

Dehydration

• According to Harvard Medical School, the average person will lose around a pint of sweat during a short stint in a sauna. Severe dehydration can lead to kidney failure or coma so it's very important to drink extra fluids before, during, and after taking a sauna.

Blood Pressure

• Blood pressure levels can be unpredictable, rising in some people and falling in others. Some argue that the heat in a sauna actually causes the capillaries in your skin to dilate, which can lower your blood pressure.

Cleansing

• Taking a sauna can lead to excess sweating, which helps rid your body of impurities. A brief period in a sauna helps detoxify and cleanse the pores of your body.

Circulation

• According to the Harvard Medical School, your pulse rate rises by 30 percent or more when taking a sauna. This allows your heart to nearly double the volume of blood it pumps per minute. Most of this added blood flow is directed to your skin. This additional circulation actually makes blood flow away from your internal organs.

Overall

• According to Dr. Harvey Simon from Harvard Medical School, saunas appear to be safe, but there is not much evidence suggesting they have many health benefits beyond making you feel better and more relaxed. Heart patients should check with their physician before taking a sauna. Patients with poorly controlled blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, unstable angina, and advanced heart failure or heart valve disease may be advised to avoid taking a sauna.