Sauna and Steam Health Risks

The next time you plan to go for a steam or sauna bath, think before indulging yourself.
The enjoyment could prove to be risky and could actually endanger your health and well-being.

Here’s why:

• Danger of dehydration. Steam and sauna baths cause dehydration as the excessive heat leads you to sweat profusely. In the process, important salts such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron are lost. Many believe that drinking water before and after a bath can prevent dehydration. But the truth is that no amount of plain water can replace the loss of vital body salts. What's more, as sweat loss progresses circulatory capacity is affected.
• Blood circulation impaired. This happens because sweating causes a decrease in the blood volume, lowers blood pressure and leads to a decline in the circulation of body tissues. The blood circulation is impaired and consequently, oxygen supply to the vital body tissues also reduces. Dizziness, nausea and weakness are common symptoms of this.
• Adverse effect on sperm production. A higher temperature, such as in the case of a steam and sauna bath, is not conducive to proper sperm production. Statistical studies have shown that in any case, sperm production is hampered in an obese man. Subject him to additional heat and it could cause a severe decrease in sperm count, leading to infertility.
• Sweat glands fatigued. Prolonged periods of sweating causes fatigue in these glands, leading to the development of ‘Milaria’, commonly referred to as prickly heat.
• Fungal infections. Appearance of white patches over the body (tenia versicolour) are frequently found after a sauna bath. Sweating in the skin folds also encourages bacterial and other fungal infections. Remember these risks the next time you plan to step into a sauna or steam bath.