Saunas have been used for thousands of years in one form or another. A fixture of Finnish homes, most spas and fitness centers now boast them. Side effects to sauna bathing, both beneficial and detrimental, exist. Enjoying the benefits of sauna bathing, while respecting the contraindications and risks of exposing yourself to such high temperatures, can keep you healthy.
Perspiration
The human body has two different kinds of sweat glands. There are more than 2.6 million of them on an average adult. Eccrine sweat glands cover the entire skin surface, with the exception of the lips, nipples and external genital areas. The majority of eccrine sweat glands appear the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet and on the forehead. These sweat glands excrete water, salts and, in minute quantities, other waste matter as a method of temperature regulation. Apocrine sweat glands mostly appear on the genital area and in the armpits. Excretions from apocrine sweat glands are "oilier" than eccrine excretions.
In general, saunas raise air temperatures to about 185 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Harvard Health Publications. This dry heat causes skin temperature to rise to about 104 degrees. Because sweating is the body's way to cool itself, sauna bathing induces sweating. Harvard Health Publications estimates that the average adult can sweat up to a pint of liquid after just a few minutes in a hot sauna.
While excessive perspiration can cause embarrassment under the wrong circumstances, during sauna bathing it is not only expected, but desired. Perspiration cleans skin, according to Go Ask Alice, a website of the Health Services at Columbia University. Dirt and debris that become trapped in pores are washed away with sweat.
Heart Risks
Not all the effects of using a sauna are beneficial. Dr. Harvey Simon, editor-in-chief of Harvard Men's Health Watch, points out that there are heart risks for people who have abnormal heart rhythms, poorly controlled blood pressure, heart valve disease or unstable angina. While Dr. Simon notes that studies have shown that people with stable coronary heart disease can enjoy the benefits of sauna, he recommends consulting your physician prior to using one.
Male Infertility
Men's scrotums hang from the outside of the body for a reason--temperature regulation. According to the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine, sperm quantity and quality go down when the scrotum overheats. Sperm production takes approximately three months. Whenever one of the steps in sperm production is disrupted, it takes approximately three months for full recover. In fact, one study of hot tub usage by men reported that sperm production side effect usually resumes naturally after three months of excessive heat avoidance.
Contraindications
People under the effects of alcohol, medications that impair sweating, medicines for blood pressure, stimulants or tranquilizers should not use a sauna. Likewise, according to Go Ask Alice, pregnant women and people with either high blood pressure or extremely low blood pressure should avoid sauna bathing.
