Is it Safe to Use an Infrared Sauna While Sick?

As the weather changes, it can be inevitable to get sick. During this time of year, everyone is looking for remedies to get better faster and continue living a healthy life. From teas and herbs to questionable at-home fixes, we all want an easy remedy that will actually work. But what if the quickest possible recovery was actually one of the most soothing ones? Saunas, commonly known for their relaxing nature, have also been proven to be beneficial to your health in a number of ways. But how do infrared saunas help with a common cold? And is it safe to use a sauna when sick? Find out why saunas are one of the best ways to accelerate your recovery while sick below. 

 

 

Are Saunas Good to Use When Sick? 

 

Yes! Infrared saunas are known to be helpful to combat a number of common health problems, including treating sickness. Infrared sauna use is completely safe and can help give you a healthy boost when trying to fight off an infection or virus. By increasing blood flow and detoxifying the body, sauna use can do wonders to strengthen your system when you are sick. When properly used, saunas can provide incredible healing benefits. However, if you have an existing condition and are unsure if sauna use is recommended, make sure to speak to a health professional prior to using a sauna.

 

How do Infrared Saunas Help Combat a Cold?

 

By detoxifying your body of the bad stuff! How it works is the heat from the sauna raises the body temperature above its resting temperature of 98.6 degrees. This process is called hyperthermia and it allows the body to enhance its sweat production. As it turns out, sweating is the only proven solution to flush your body of bad toxins. Sauna-induced sweating is the easiest and most natural way to accelerate this process. Hyperthermia is a safe and effective way to eliminate viruses and return to an optimal health state. As most people are used to warming their body by drinking hot tea or soup when sick with a cold, sauna use is another way to increase your body’s temperature. 

Through hyperthermia, infrared saunas use activates a number of amazing reactions that strengthen the body. Some of these include aiding respiratory function, reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and improving immune system health – all which contribute to improved overall health, but are especially beneficial when sick.

 

Why Infrared Saunas? 

Infrared saunas are saunas installed with infrared lights, while functioning like any normal saunas does but with added health benefits. These far and near infrared light waves penetrate into our body to activate the sweat glands and promote the health benefits of sweating. This is why infrared lights in saunas can help give an even bigger health boost than saunas without this technology. Infrared saunas promote healing and revitalization through discharging your system of large amounts of waste material in just one session.

 

 

Benefits of Using Infrared Saunas When Sick

There is really no reason to put your life on pause while you are sick with a cold. Infrared saunas not only aid health in a holistic way, they are also incredibly relaxing and soothing when you’re feeling under the weather. The following are some of the top benefits of sauna use we find when treating a cold: 

• Ease muscle tension, aches and pains
• Promote restful sleep – which tends to be disrupted during illness
• Reduce stress by promoting a calm state throughout the body and mind
• Clear and open airways for congestion
• Soothe scratchy throat by breathing in steam
• Boosted immune system
• Sooth other chronic symptoms

The amazing benefits of using a sauna when sick may even minimize your recovery time from cold symptoms. Using a sauna helps your body improve drainage and potentially weaken flu viruses. Studies show that regular sauna use may even help reduce the frequency in which a person gets sick.

You can also enhance the health benefits of an infrared sauna by incorporating practices such as halotherapy and aromatherapy. Salt therapy, or halotherapy, technology can help stimulate the respiratory system, reduce inflammation, fight infections of all kinds, clear blockways, and reduce discomfort. Aromatherapy is helpful by using various essential oils to help soothe the respiratory system and help promote rest for a faster recovery.

 

Preventing Common Colds and Flu 

While regular sauna use may decrease the likelihood of you getting sick, there are other lifestyle choices you can make to help boost your immune system and prevent sickness. 

• Take daily multivitamins
• Get movement and exercise in regularly
• Wash your hands 
• Keep your space clean 
• Stay on top of doctor checkups 
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Avoid the use of substances

Among these, communicating with your doctor about your health concerns and illnesses should be of the highest priority. Make sure you are caring for your body when you most need it. 

 

 

Recommendations For Using Saunas While Sick

 

Because the body can be slightly more sensitive when sick, here are some recommendations for using a sauna safely and comfortably. 

Ensure you are staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water, before, during, and after a sauna session. Your body tends to be more dehydrated when you are sick and the sweat production from sauna use also requires you to rehydrate after. This is an important step to reduce risk of worsening symptoms.

Make sure the temperature of your sauna is not set too hot. The sauna should be a comfortably warm space. Since your body temperature may rise while you are sick, this comfortable temperature may be lower than the one you use when you are feeling healthy. You will still achieve the same results at a lower temperature but you always want to make sure the temperature is not too high.

Some people may find that they sweat in the sauna more when they are sick. Having a towel handy can make sure you feel comfortable during the session.

The next time you are stuck with the flu or a cold and want a relaxing remedy that will also help boost your immune system, try getting in an infrared sauna. Regular sauna use is not only beneficial for a relaxed state of mind, but it can also strengthen your immune system and prevent you from getting sick in the future.