Cough

Is it possible to go to the bathhouse? Is it possible to go to the bathhouse with a runny nose and colds - visiting rules

The modern bathhouse has begun to be perceived by many as a means of relaxation. With the advent of gradual urbanization and the appearance of each apartment with its own bathrooms, the main purpose of the bathhouse faded away, and the tradition of washing in it remained only in some villages.

At first glance, this seems like progress, but in fact the bathhouse served many more functions, which, unfortunately, were forgotten. So, one of the main facts that is now quite well known is that our ancestors treated colds in the bathhouse. This seems paradoxical and wrong at first glance, so you need to find out whether you can go to the bathhouse if you have a cold, and what rules you need to follow.

Benefits of visiting a bathhouse

A bathhouse for colds has a healing effect on the entire body. It is only important to visit the steam room at the right time and use the right products to increase efficiency. If everything is done correctly, then the person receives powerful support to fight the disease.

Although many do not understand, the main cause of a cold is not that viral or bacteriological agents have entered the body. To the surprise of ordinary people, it turns out that they are constantly in contact with them. The main reason is a temporary weakening of the immune system, which occurs due to hypothermia, prolonged stress or lack of nutrients.

What happens due to the increase in temperature from steaming

When a person is in a hot room, his body temperature rises by 1-3 degrees. Due to the fact that such a jump occurs, the body believes that an emergency situation is occurring and activates reserves.
Such temperature fluctuations occur due to poisoning, an allergic reaction, or infection in an open wound. Therefore, the main immune response consists of an increase in white blood cells and their certain modifications.
Phagocytosis begins in the body, special leukocytes (phagocytes) begin searching for damaged cells and enveloping them. Essentially, phagocytes absorb any abnormalities, and if the mass of such viruses or bacteria is too large for one cell, it falls apart along with pieces of pathogenic agents.
The entry of a portion of whole phagocytes into the lymphatic system, due to which the immune system recognizes the pathogen and begins to produce specific antibodies. Thanks to this, the destruction of the pathogen is accelerated.
Approximately the same situation occurs with a natural increase in temperature that occurs during illness. But unlike the usual course of the disease, a bath for colds and coughs has a temporary effect on the body, but the immune system continues to produce antibodies that kill viruses and bacteria for a long time.

Does a bath for a cold have a good or bad effect on the respiratory system? It was precisely because they noticed the positive effect of the bath on expectoration of mucus and softening of the mucous membrane that prompted the invention of inhalation in ancient times. This is exactly what happens when visiting a Russian bathhouse for a cold, when you can use many decoctions to form a cloud of steam.

How the respiratory system is cleansed:

When exhaling warm fumes, the nasopharynx is first cleared, abundant mucus is released from the nose, as well as the urge to expectorate.
When the nasopharynx is cleared, hot steam enters the trachea, which first leads to a softening of the formations enveloping its walls, and then the urge to cough occurs. Because of this, expectoration of sputum occurs.
Thanks to the release of the nasopharynx and trachea, mucus begins to be removed from the alveoli, which interfered with proper gas exchange.

Is it possible to take a steam bath when you have a cold and use a broom tap? Most often it is advised to do this in order to get rid of aches in the joints and ligaments, but in fact they don’t even occur if you go to the bathhouse on time when you have a cold. This procedure can be used to speed up blood circulation, which will increase the reaction rate of the immune system, and it will destroy all pathogenic agents in a shorter time.

Disadvantages of baths for colds

To understand whether it is possible to go to the bathhouse with a cold, and whether this will cause negative reactions, you need to know what the disadvantages of this type of health procedures are. Side effects appear only if there is a violation in the technology of visiting the bathhouse or due to the fact that contraindications and chronic diseases were not taken into account.

Therefore, before you understand whether you can go to the bathhouse if you have a cold and dare to undergo such an unusual treatment in our time, you need to know what health problems exist besides a cold.

Indications for visiting the bathhouse and is it possible to wash if you have a cold without fever?

To accurately understand whether a bathhouse helps with colds, you need to know certain rules of behavior in this establishment. It is not recommended to visit the steam room alone, as if the body reacts too strongly, clouding of consciousness may occur.

Is it possible to go to the bathhouse if you have a cold without fever? It is possible, but subject to certain rules:

If there is a large amount of steam in the steam room, you should avoid places where only the temperature is increased.
No wounds on the body.
No other inflammatory infections.
No contraindications for health reasons.
The presence of knowledge about the correct steaming technology, which is present in the patient or his accompanying person.

If all these points are met, then you can take a steam bath if you have a cold. This procedure will only bring correct and useful results. At the same time, it will have a negative effect on colds, but will also help strengthen the body and immune system.

Contraindications to visiting the bathhouse

Unfortunately, the bathhouse is not always able to bring benefits; sometimes visiting it can lead to unpleasant consequences. The main reasons for such body reactions are chronic diseases or other injuries that are incompatible with high humidity and temperature.

When not to go to the bathhouse:

A bath and a cold are incompatible if the second stage of the disease has begun, during which the general body temperature rises. At the same time, the bath increases it even more, which only negatively affects the general condition of the body, and also reduces the effect of the immune system.
Is it possible to go to the bathhouse with a cold when there are suspicions of kidney disease? No, you should never do this. The main routes of elimination of dead cells and phagocytes from the body occur through urination, which leads to increased stress on the kidneys and can provoke further damage.
Is it possible to go to the bathhouse if you have a cold or have problems with the cardiovascular system? If there is the slightest damage in this area, then a sharp increase in body temperature will lead to their aggravation.
You can go to the bathhouse if you have a cold, when there are no problems with blood clotting. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s too thick or thin, any problem can lead to very serious consequences. If the blood is prone to thrombus formation, then due to the increased production of its cells, this situation will worsen. Also, if there are already blood clots in the blood vessels, they can break away from the walls and, traveling through the bloodstream, lead to blockage of the veins and arteries that supply internal organs with blood. The opposite situation occurs when the blood is too thin - due to the expansion of the walls of the blood vessels, it becomes even less thick, which, with the slightest external or internal injury, will provoke heavy bleeding.
If you have a cold, you can go to the bathhouse only if there are no problems with pressure, both general and intracranial.

When people know what health problems they have and select treatment procedures to suit the characteristics of their body, they do not bring side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to pay close attention to your well-being before visiting the bathhouse, and if any alarming symptoms are present, it should be cancelled.

Care in treating even the mildest cold is necessary and can prevent the most severe consequences for health and well-being.

What and how to do in the bath

To increase the beneficial effects of the bath on the body, it is necessary that beneficial substances enter the body at the time of steaming. There are two main ways to do this: in the form of wet steam, and with the help of herbal teas.

What plants to use for steam

Steam requires that the top that receives the liquid be slightly cooled. If, on the contrary, for ordinary water it is heated, then such behavior with decoctions will only lead to the burnout of useful substances, and not to their evaporation. Therefore, first, ordinary water is poured onto the stones 1-2 times, after which the decoctions are immediately sprayed. Then most of the phytocytes will enter the air, and, consequently, into the lungs.

Herbs that work well when inhaled:

linden buds and leaves;
eucalyptus leaves;
chamomile;
thyme;
currant or raspberry leaves;
oregano;
sage.

It is necessary to prepare a decoction in advance that will be used to water the heater. Most often it is advised to use one plant in order to have the right effect on the body. But if you have experience in preparing herbal compositions, then you can use mixtures that will have the greatest positive effect on health.

What teas can you drink?

When visiting a bathhouse, a large amount of fluid is always lost through sweat, and in order not to harm the internal organs due to too thick blood, it is advised to replenish the amount of fluid in a timely manner. At this time, it is best absorbed, so you should take advantage of this and drink herbal decoctions instead of water.

What herbs to brew:

raspberry leaves;
linden flowers;
chamomile;
St. John's wort;
oregano;
Melissa.

In order for herbs to produce the best effect, it is necessary to choose what kind of effect will be provided. You can not only support the body in the fight against colds, but also increase sweating and eliminate toxins. It is best to read about each plant separately before brewing, as some substances in them can be dangerous under different conditions of the body.

Is it possible to go to the bathhouse if you have a cold? This is an interesting question and has a positive answer. In almost all cases, this procedure has a positive effect on human health, helping to cope with problems with the body that have arisen due to hypothermia.

Many people love to take a steam bath, but a sudden onset of illness can prevent them from enjoying this pleasant and beneficial procedure. A bath for a runny nose is especially useful in the initial stages of the disease. But there are also contraindications that every person needs to know about so as not to cause a worsening of the condition.

Since ancient times, colds, including a runny nose, have been treated in a bathhouse.

Useful properties of the bath:

Speeds up metabolism.
Strengthens the immune system.
Removes waste and toxins from the body.
Under the influence of warm steam, mucus thins and comes out of the sinuses better.

Blood circulation throughout the body improves.
Helps remove mucus from the upper respiratory tract and helps fight cough.
The sauna stimulates the body's production of interferon, which fights viruses and infections.

You can take a steam bath only if your body temperature has not reached critical values. If the temperature rises above 37.5 degrees, then you cannot visit the bathhouse. This can provoke a sharp deterioration in the condition and lead to very serious consequences.

Can a child go to the bathhouse with a stuffy nose?

Children with a runny nose can visit the bathhouse in the same way as adults. You just need to make sure that the temperature in the bath is not too high, since the child’s body is weaker compared to the body of an adult.

It is not advisable to take a child to the sauna with nasal congestion, if he has too high a temperature, heart problems or vegetative-vascular dystonia. Otherwise, the child's condition will only worsen.

Is it possible to go to the bathhouse with a runny nose and get treatment?

You can and even need to visit the bathhouse if you have rhinitis. You just have to do it right. It is good if essential oils of cedar, lavender or eucalyptus are used during the bath. The vapor will have a beneficial effect on the nasal mucosa. And under their influence, the liquefaction of accumulated mucus will occur more actively. After some time, you may feel an improvement in your condition. To alleviate the condition, you can use a pine broom.

You can also go to the bathhouse with snot at the end of your illness as a preventive measure. This will help strengthen weakened immunity. The body will get in shape faster.

Is it possible to take a steam bath with a runny nose and how to do it correctly?

Before going to the bathhouse, you need to find out how to properly steam with a stuffy nose.

How to properly steam in a sauna with a runny nose:

You can stay in the steam room for no more than 15 minutes. Then it is advisable to take a short break. It is recommended to enter the steam room no more than 3 times.
To improve blood flow, you can use a birch or pine broom. When you have a runny nose, it is better to give preference to a pine broom.

After the steam room, you can jump into the cool pool. Contrast procedures activate the body and improve skin tone.
After the sauna you should not overcool. You need to dry yourself with a towel and stay warm. Otherwise, hypothermia may contribute to the development of complications.
In order to improve the condition, the bath can be combined with taking herbal decoctions. This procedure will quickly put the patient on his feet.

Is it possible to take herbal infusions to the bathhouse for treatment?

The most effective sauna for a runny nose will be if you combine it with taking herbal decoctions.

Tea can be prepared from the following herbs:

Thyme.
Linden.
Sage.
Mint.

2 tbsp. l. Pour boiling water over the dried herbs and leave for 20 minutes. Then add a spoonful of honey and drink like regular tea.

To alleviate the condition, you can carry out the following procedure:

Pour 20 g of mustard powder with water.
Pour the liquid onto the hot stones in the sauna.
Breathe the steam.

After some time, the congestion will disappear and breathing will become easier.

You can also use a special solution based on wild rosemary. 2 tbsp. l. Mix chopped wild rosemary herb with 50 ml of olive oil. Infuse the herb for a month in a dark, well-ventilated area.

Then strain the oil and dilute it in a liter of water. The resulting liquid based on wild rosemary is poured onto hot stones in the sauna and the healing steam is inhaled. The same infusion can be instilled into the nose for rhinitis to ease breathing. You can drip 2-3 drops into each nostril.

Contraindications

A bath and a runny nose can sometimes be incompatible. In some cases, there are contraindications to visiting the bathhouse. First of all, you can't visit. In this form, mucus accumulates in the sinuses and causes inflammation. If left untreated and exposed to high temperatures, it begins to liquefy and can cause inflammation of the cerebral cortex.

In this case, such a pleasant activity as visiting a bathhouse can lead to the development of meningitis and other complications.

Visiting the sauna at high temperatures is also contraindicated. This can lead not only to worsening of the condition, but also to heart failure or heart attack.

Visiting the sauna with a severe cold and headache can lead to dizziness, fainting and loss of strength. After such a procedure, a person may feel overwhelmed and tired. Your temperature may also rise.

There is an opinion that the Russian bath is very good for health. But does this mean that the more often you take a steam bath, the healthier you will become? Let's turn to the opinions of experts.

What are the benefits of a Russian bath?

According to doctors, the Russian bath relieves fatigue and actively affects the function of internal organs, the cardiovascular system and metabolism in general. In the steam room, a person begins to actively sweat, an abundant release of moisture from the body occurs, which leads to its cleansing and renewal. Bath procedures help you lose excess weight and help get rid of cellulite.

From time immemorial, with the help of hot steam and a broom, our ancestors treated various ailments and ailments. It was in a heated bathhouse that it was customary to give birth, at least among peasants. Thus, the mother and baby were protected from infections, since viruses and bacteria died from high temperatures. In addition, in a warm and relaxed environment, the birth process was easier.

By the way, doctors claim that visiting a Russian steam room is beneficial for women with gynecological problems. The Russian bath alleviates the symptoms of menopause, treats complications after abortions and miscarriages, menstrual irregularities and even infertility. And it is also very beneficial for the skin. It is useful to go to the bathhouse for those who suffer from hives and various dermatitis.

Research concerning the influence of the Russian bath on the human body was also carried out by foreign scientists. Thus, Japanese researchers have found that moderate bath procedures in patients suffering from high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes lead to strengthening of blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and blood sugar. German experts found that children who do not visit a bathhouse or sauna get sick twice as often as their peers. In addition, the contact of water with hot stones leads to the formation of negatively charged ions, which have a beneficial effect on the body.

How often can you steam?

However, most experts agree that the steam room should be visited no more than 1-2 times a week. “By and large, a bathhouse is a big burden on the body,” says allergist Elvira Gilvanova. — The bath requires slowness and thoroughness. Those. You can rinse yourself at least every day, but you need to steam once a week.”

Since the temperature in the steam room exceeds 60 degrees, this can negatively affect the condition of the skin, hair, and, of course, the cardiovascular, respiratory and reproductive systems. In addition, almost all of us have some kind of pain.

“It’s better to steam at a temperature of 60-80` C, with a humidity of 20-40%,” recommends Elvira Gilvanova. —

But you can just wash yourself at 50°C, without steam.”

First of all, experts say, frequent steaming is contraindicated for those who do not tolerate hot and humid steam well: it is very hot in the steam room! Those who suffer from exacerbations of chronic diseases should not actively visit the bathhouse; oncology; elevated temperature; cardiovascular diseases; epilepsy; Parkinson's disease.

As for women, those suffering from acute inflammatory diseases of the genital area, those who have recently undergone childbirth or surgery, as well as pregnant women at risk of miscarriage should not go to the bathhouse.

Bath "rules"

Professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences Anatoly Biryukov, states: “Regularly visiting the bathhouse, for example, once a week (preferably on Saturdays or Sundays), makes it possible to provide proper hygienic care for the body, as well as get rid of the fatigue that has accumulated over the week... Visiting the steam room - one of the methods of hardening and prevention of certain infectious, colds and rheumatic diseases. Therefore, you can visit the bathhouse several times a day, but subject to certain rules.”

For example, the specialist advises, “when entering the steam room for the first time, beginners, the elderly, children and those who feel not entirely healthy should be placed in the “comfort” zone - on the lower shelf, where the air temperature is not so high. The duration of stay should not exceed 6 minutes. After entering the steam room for the first time, you should rest for 8-12 minutes in a well-ventilated area.”

Also, Biryukov advises, it is better to be in a lying position in the steam room, as this reduces the load on the cardiovascular system and promotes nervous and muscle relaxation. You should not stand or sit with your legs down - this again puts a strain on the heart and also overheats the head. If there is not enough free space, then when sitting, it is better to stretch your arms along the shelf or pull them to your chest.

So, in principle, you can go to the bathhouse every day, but you should take a steam bath only on special “bath” days and in compliance with all the rules prescribed by doctors. Of course, if you want visits to the bathhouse to bring benefits to your health and not harm.

Health

The modern sauna, which will be discussed below, wasinvented in Finland . Its analogues appeared about 2 thousand years ago. Finns, like other peoples of the north, cannot imagine their life without a steam room and visit it regularly.

According to statistics, there are electric saunas in every second Finnish apartment. And if someone doesn’t have a sauna in their apartment, then there will definitely be one or two steam rooms for public use in a high-rise building, where apartment residents can go whenever they wish.

Sauna inextricably linked with Finnish culture and is considered the national symbol of Finland. It is not surprising that it has become so popular in other countries, because it has so many benefits!

In Finland there is a legend about a sauna: one day drops of rainwater leaked through the roof andfell on hot stones in the hearth, causing a pleasant heat to appear in the room. People realized that they could make such a steam room with hot steam on their own. In ancient times, they believed that steam is a spirit that can give health and happiness.

1. What is a sauna? The difference between a bath and a sauna

Word sauna came to us from Latin - that’s what they call it today Finnish sauna, a type of steam room in which the hot air is dry, without steam. Today I would like to talk about this type of bathhouse, since it is the one that is very popular, they can be found in cities, and special electric saunas can be installed even in an apartment.

The culture of using hot water, hot steam and air for heating, hygiene and medicinal purposes has its roots in time immemorial. An interesting fact is that baths as such appeared among different nations almost simultaneously and independently of each other.

Sauna– this is a bathhouse, only with its own characteristics. Sometimes a sauna is called a Finnish bath. It differs from a Russian bath in that it is basically a dry steam room, where there is no steam or very little of it. Thanks to these features, Russian baths and Finnish saunas have different influence on the human body.

In a Russian bath the air temperature is not too high - 40-70 ºС, when the air humidity is very high - 90-100%. If the temperature in the bathhouse were higher with such humidity, you could simply get a steam burn!

In a Finnish sauna it’s the other way around – the temperature is 70-100 ºС, and humidity - 10-25%. To avoid burns from hot steam, it is not recommended to pour large quantities of water on the hot stones in the sauna.

Dry air heats the body evenly, and sweat is released to naturally cool the skin.

It is believed that the Russian bathhouse is not so shocks the body, like a Finnish sauna, since the temperature in it is lower. However, based on the effects, for a weaker body it is still advised to choose a dry sauna.

The stones on which water is poured in the bathhouse are located in the stove with the lid closed, so they heat up more. There are stones in the sauna lying open.

Steam in baths and saunas in different ways - people in baths constantly moving: carry water, water, wash, etc. In the sauna they just lie and relax.

In the baths I use brooms to stimulate sweating, the sauna is so hot that a person sweats without any stimulation. Sometimes they still take brooms into the sauna for massage.

2. Types of saunas: regular and infrared

An ordinary sauna is a room upholstered with wooden boards, where heat is usually supplied using a stove and burning wood, but there are also modern analogues based on supplying heat using electricity.

Infrared saunas differ in that heat is supplied to the cabin by radiation from an infrared heater. This radiation gives heat, but the peculiarity of such heat is that it is not the air that is heated, but the objects themselves, including the body of a person who is inside the cabin.

Heat penetrates into the body approximately 4 cm, thereby warming it up better than a regular Finnish sauna does. This allows for increased sweating and the release of toxins from the body through sweat.

Temperature in the infrared sauna – 40-60 º WITH, so people can calmly steam there, having heart problems.

To visit an infrared sauna, like any other, there are contraindications, and not everyone can normally tolerate thermal effects of a certain strength.

Infrared saunas are appearing today in many spa centers and sports complexes. They are ready to use already in 15 minutes after switching on, when heating a regular sauna can take at least an hour.

3. Benefits of a sauna: why go to saunas?

The main question that worries everyone who is interested in a sauna is why is it needed at all? Are there any benefits to using a sauna beyond just the pleasant sensations and good time spent with friends? There are undoubtedly benefits, and anyone who visits saunas on a regular basis can confirm this.

Positive effect on the SKIN and elimination of various skin problems with the help of a sauna:

Cleansing microbes, bacteria, and various types of impurities invisible to the eye from the skin;
Removal of the dead layer of cells and increased metabolism, and as a result - skin rejuvenation;
Removing excess sebum along with sweat: this prevents the appearance of pimples and blackheads;
Restoring natural blood circulation, which helps eliminate problems such as pale, dry or oily skin, enlarged pores; improvement of skin health indicators: elasticity, softness, etc.;
Training the sweat glands, improving the body's heat regulation system;
Smoothing wrinkles, slowing down the aging process of the skin;
Training the skin's ability to resist negative environmental influences.

Positive effect on the HEART AND VESSELS with the help of a sauna:

Restoration of the cardiovascular system;
Stimulation of the work of the heart muscle (the heart has a similar workout during physical activity);
Moving reserve blood, which gives cells a signal to renew.

Positive effect on the NERVOUS SYSTEM with the help of a sauna:

Reduced mental stress, relaxation due to the saturation of the brain with oxygen and the flow of more blood to the muscles;
Elimination of stress, reduction of excitability.

Positive effects on the RESPIRATORY ORGANS with the help of a sauna:

Improved air exchange in the lungs due to deeper breathing;
Improving lung ventilation;
Elimination of excess mucus from the lungs and bronchi;
Improved oxygen consumption;
Help in the treatment of chronic and common colds.

Positive effects on MUSCLES with the help of a sauna:

Reducing the level of lactic acid in the muscles, which accumulates after physical activity and causes pain and discomfort (immediately after the sauna the level decreases by half, and an hour after the procedure - three more times);
Eliminating muscle fatigue and relaxing them;
Increased muscle endurance, reaction speed (when used in saunas at temperatures of about 100 º WITH)/

Positive effect on JOINTS, LIGAMENTS and BONES with the help of a sauna:

Improving the elasticity and mobility of ligaments;
Increasing the flow of nutrients to joints and ligaments (by activating reserve blood);
Resorption of salt deposits;
Resorption of fluid around joints (reduction of swelling);
Faster healing of injuries to ligaments, joints or bones, acceleration of recovery processes;
Reducing discomfort in joints after physical activity;
Bone tissue renewal.

Positive effect on the KIDNEYS with the help of a sauna:

Facilitating the work of the kidneys due to increased sweating, reducing the load on them.

Positive effect on METABOLISM with the help of a sauna:

Acceleration of the removal from the body of sodium chloride salts, nitrogenous substances, uric acid, urea, inorganic phosphorus and lactic acid.
Activation of metabolic processes, increase in metabolic rate;
Help in losing weight;
A surge of strength, vigor and improved well-being, also associated with an acceleration of metabolism.

Other positive effects that a sauna provides:

Improved visual acuity;
Increased light sensitivity of the eye;
Improved concentration;
Relieving overwork, fatigue and stress;
Feeling of lightness, improved mood, increased optimism;
Normalization of sleep, relief from insomnia;
Improving immunity, reducing the number of infections with colds and viral diseases to a minimum, and often to zero;
Relieving hangover symptoms;
Good adaptation to the summer heat (or preparation for a holiday in hot countries), development of a protection mechanism against overheating.

Thanks to all the benefits of a sauna for physical and mental health, regular visits to the steam room increase energy, productivity, self-confidence, and optimism.

A sauna in winter helps the body adapt to the winter cold, boosting immunity, and in the summer - to the heat (you feel much more comfortable in the summer heat and don’t even need air conditioning!)

4. Harm from the sauna: contraindications and warnings

Speaking about the positive properties of the sauna, of which there are undoubtedly a great many, it is also worth noting that the effects of high temperatures, as well as temperature changes to which the body is exposed in saunas, may cause harm. Problems come when a person begins to misuse a resource, because with the right approach there will never be harm.

The sauna is a tool that should be used very MODERATELY! Overheating when visiting the steam room frequently and staying in it for a long time leads to the following problems:

Loss of moisture reserves, which are very important for health;
Increased heart rate to a critical state;
Blood thickening;
Dangerous increase in blood pressure;
Overexcitation of the nervous system;
Weakness, apathy, loss of appetite;
Fainting, loss of consciousness.

Contraindications:

It is better to avoid visiting the sauna for those who suffer from some of the serious diseases presented below. If you do not have these diseases, but still have any doubts, then you should check with your doctor Can you use a sauna and which one?

Heart disease (especially hypertension);

Kidney diseases with impaired kidney function;
Gallstone disease (with attacks);
Chronic inflammation of the peritoneum;
Neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract, stomach and intestinal ulcers;
Chronic hepatitis;
Inflammation of various organs;
Severe neurological diseases and mental illnesses;
Oncological diseases.

You should also not use the sauna immediately after surgery. You should also refuse if you are currently suffering from diarrhea, feel unwell, have ARVI with fever, have any infectious diseases, tuberculosis, epilepsy, psychosis and others serious illnesses.

Also, saunas are contraindicated if a person afraid to visit her or experiences extremely unpleasant sensations from elevated temperature. It is highly not recommended to “drag” such a person into the sauna and insist too much, because it will not bring him any benefit, and you may feel extremely uncomfortable being in his company.

5. Can a pregnant woman go to the sauna?

Pregnant women often hear about a variety of restrictions that are imposed on them due to their position. Pregnancy is not a disease, but precautions are necessary, because the second organism in a woman’s body may react completely differently than her own body before pregnancy.

Strong body heating and temperature changes are often not recommended for a pregnant woman - just in case! But in fact, visiting the sauna is not prohibited during pregnancy, if you act carefully and under supervision attending physician.

IMPORTANT! Before visiting the sauna, you should consult with the doctor who is caring for your pregnancy. This is true for any potentially dangerous procedures, even if you were used to them before pregnancy!

You will most likely be banned from using the steam room if you have short period of time(first trimester), there are any concerns and risks for the health of the mother and fetus, you have oligohydramnios, hypotension, infections of the reproductive system, etc.

If you are healthy, there are no risks, the fetus is developing normally, you are in the 2-3 trimester and before pregnancy you regularly visited the sauna (that is, you have a normal experience - six months or more), then the risks of harm from the sauna are minimal.

Monitor your condition: if you do not feel as good as before when visiting the sauna, you should not continue! This could be a signal that Now the sauna will not do you any good.

If you are used to going to the sauna not only to visit the steam room, this is the best place for you rest and relaxation, you come there to chat with friends, get massages and various masks for the body and hair, etc., and the steam room is just an additional ritual from the range of spa treatments, you can safely visit the sauna while pregnant, but without going into to the steam room, especially if your doctor has forbidden you to do so.

The good feeling and mood you get from relaxing in pleasant company will have a great impact on your overall health. Happy and calm mother– the key to health, happiness and peace of mind of the unborn child!

6. Can children go to the sauna?

In the old days, saunas and steam baths were used for childbirth: due to the high temperatures, it was the most sterile place. And although people in those days did not know what microbes were, intuitively felt that the sauna is an excellent place for the emergence of new life.

In Finland, children are starting to be taken to saunas on an equal basis with adults since the age of 4. Research currently being conducted shows that children who regularly visit saunas and baths with their parents get sick much less, and also receive character qualities such as determination and discipline. These children are also more obedient and less irritable, probably because the sauna helps them relax normally and relieve overstimulation.

It is believed that starting from the age of 3, a child can gradually get used to the sauna, if you visit it regularly. This primarily applies to home saunas, where you are confident in hygiene and cleanliness. Public saunas are quite a dangerous place in terms of infections. Adults have more strong immunity to infections of public places than in children, so if you are concerned about your child’s health, do not go with him to public saunas.

If you have any doubts about your child visiting the sauna, check with your pediatrician whether it is possible for your child to steam and how much time he can spend time in the steam room without harm. Each individual child may have some contraindications, which your doctor knows and can warn you about.

If visitation is allowed, remember that a child's body heats up faster and requires just a little time spend in the steam room, the author of the site warns. In addition, children should not steam on the upper shelves; the best thing is on the lower shelf or on the floor, where the air temperature is about 40-50 ºС.

7. How often and how to go to the sauna?

A visit to the sauna has certain stages, which everyone who wants to get the maximum benefit from it and who goes on a regular basis needs to know.

For beginners: it's better to start from 1 time per week, staying in the steam room for no more than 5 minutes per session. You can do several such sessions within an hour - 2-5 (less for beginners). In normal mode you can stay in the sauna about 15 minutes in one session (but it all depends on the person’s condition, experience and health). Staying in a steam room for more than 30 minutes at a time is contraindicated, because the benefits turn out to be harmful!

For mild forms of diseases for which visiting the sauna is not recommended, you can begin to accustom the body to the sauna by visiting it once every 2 weeks. But here it is better to consult a doctor.

Those who already have sufficient experience and who have a strong healthy body can take a steam bath up to 4 times a week, but the time for visiting the steam room should be no more 7-10 minutes at a time.

On average, good effects will be noticeable already when visiting the sauna. 1-2 times a week for several months.

To maximize the benefits of visiting the sauna, you should adhere to certain rules, which were formed over the course of many centuries of human use of the capabilities of the sauna. Remember them and follow each point step by step.

1) Warm shower and visit to the pool.

If you plan to not only take a steam bath in the sauna, but also have a good swim in the pool, it is better to do this before taking hot procedures, since swimming in cool water for a long time after the steam room is not recommended - the risk of colds increases. This, of course, applies to warmer pools intended for swimming. If your sauna does not have such a pool, but only a cold pool, then you will skip this stage.

2) After water sports, you should take a hot shower.

This stage is preparatory. It is needed to prepare the body for the higher temperature in the steam room. You can check that your body is ready by looking for pinkish or red skin during a hot shower. After a shower, you need to dry yourself well with a towel so that your skin is dry: only then will sweating occur better.

3) The first entry into the sauna is for 5-8 minutes. It is worth lying on the bottom shelf horizontally or with your legs slightly raised for about 3-4 minutes.

This allows the body to warm up evenly, because the temperature in the sauna rises from the floor to the ceiling. If you sit, your head will warm up more than your legs, and this will put additional strain on your heart. If your legs are slightly elevated and you are lying on a shelf, this significantly reduces the load. In addition, lying down relaxes the muscles well.

The next stage is raising the temperature: you can lie on a higher shelf. You shouldn't lie on the top floor longer than 2-3 minutes!

4) Cold procedures.

After entering the sauna for the first time, you need to stand briefly under a cool shower or plunge into a cool pool for a few minutes. The temperature in the pool should be 16-20 ºС, this is the most comfortable for the body and will give a good effect.

After the steam room it is necessary always wash off sweat, since when the body cools down to normal temperature, all the released substances, along with sweat, begin to be absorbed back!

ATTENTION! Anyone with heart problems should not take a cold shower or plunge into a cold pool!

5) After cold procedures, you should take a warm or hot shower again., dry off and rest in the rest room for 10 to 20 minutes before the next entry. It's good to drink a glass of water or other permitted drinks to restore your fluid balance.

The number of visits to the steam room depends on the individual preferences and capabilities of the body. For beginners and patients - better no more than 2 times at a moderate temperature (lie on the lower shelves), for healthy people - more. But usually 3-5 times for 10-15 minutes is enough to feel the effect.

It is optimal to rent a sauna for 2 hours: this time is enough for relaxation, rest and all procedures. If you also invite a massage therapist to the sauna, more time may be needed.

It is worth paying attention to precautions and certain rules that should not be violated, so as not to harm yourself and those around you. The following things cannot or are not recommended to be done in saunas:

Drink alcohol;
Overeat;
Sit on the bottom shelf or on the floor in the steam room, increasing the time you spend in it;
Keep your feet down and your head up (especially if you are sitting on the top bunk);
Take a hot shower immediately after the steam room;
Sit in the steam room with your head uncovered;
Sit in the steam room with your legs crossed;
Sitting in the steam room with clothes on;
Immediately after the steam room, jump sweaty into the pool (you should first wash off the sweat with cool or cold water in the shower);
Swim in the pool immediately after visiting the steam room or after all steam procedures (you can swim before).

9. Sauna for treatment

Dry sauna – the Finnish sauna differs from the steam bath in its effects. Despite higher temperatures, dry hot air is easier to tolerate sick, elderly and unseasoned people as well as women and children.

The sauna, first of all, helps prevent diseases, that is, it acts as a preventive agent and increases resistance to diseases. But it can also treat some diseases. If you have the diseases listed below, check with your doctor to see how much sauna use is allowed for you, how often and in what form. In each individual case, the frequency, temperature conditions and stay in steam rooms may be different!

Rheumatism. In mild forms of this disease, warming the body will help relax and warm the joints and muscles. After this, you should not plunge into a cold pool or douse yourself with cold water.

Radiculitis. Massages and wraps along with a visit to the steam room help combat this problem.

Hypertension and hypotension. It helps to normalize blood pressure in mild forms of these diseases.

Varicose veins. The sauna helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels.

Skin diseases - psoriasis and neurodermatitis. The sauna helps to moisturize the skin, remove the top layers, cleanse the pores, reduce the symptoms of diseases, etc.

Bruises, dislocations and sprains, muscle pain after exercise. Problems quickly disappear due to increased blood circulation.

Haemorrhoids. Helps normalize the outflow of venous blood.

Colds at the initial stage. The sauna is good for mild runny noses, wet and dry coughs. If you have a chest cough, wheezing or obstruction, you should avoid the sauna and consult a doctor.

Some diseases and symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract.

10. Sauna for weight loss

It is known that visiting a sauna in combination with other procedures helps reduce weight. If you are serious about shedding extra pounds, meaning you eat right, are active enough, get enough sleep and don't have stress, you can start going to the sauna as an addition.

Remember that if the problems of your eating behavior and activity have not been resolved, the sauna itself will not be able to help you become slimmer!

One of the effects of the sauna is that it helps to eliminate sweat. toxins and wastes, including salts that retain fluid. In addition, if you have steamed and sweated properly, you may notice that in just 2 hours you seem to have decreased in size. This is especially noticeable by women who are not overweight.

The effect can be explained simply: greater moisture loss makes you a little lighter, swelling decreases. To make the effect last longer, reduce consumption of salty and any junk food to a minimum and visit the sauna at least once a week.

A very important thing in losing weight is calm mental state. When stressed, the body is very tense and wants to gain as many resources as possible to cope with stress. If it’s bad now, then who knows what will happen tomorrow, I’ll get more, just in case. This is what explains “stress gluttons”, when the body of an unhappy and stressed person requires more food.

In this case, the sauna will help reduce stress, give inner peace and tranquility, improve sleep, and the body will not have to “think” about how to gain more for a rainy day.

To make the weight loss process go faster, you should pay attention to the following procedure for visiting the sauna:

1) Warm or hot shower to warm up and prepare for the steam room.

2) 3-4 visits to the steam room at a temperature on the top shelf of 90-100 ºС and with a break of 10 minutes. After the steam room, you can plunge into a cold pool or take a cool shower.

3) After the second session, you should drink a hot diaphoretic decoction.

4) Between the second and third entry into the sauna, you should scrub using corn flour, coffee or other means. You can also make clay or seaweed wraps in problem areas. You can massage problem areas or the whole body.

TIP: Do not take starchy or sweet foods, as well as any foods with carbohydrates, into the sauna, especially in the morning. Do not drink sweet drinks and juices in the sauna, even if they are freshly squeezed; drink only herbal teas or plain water. Avoid sweet fruits - take sour fruits or vegetables, and you can also snack on a handful of nuts.

11. What can you eat and drink in the sauna?

Visiting saunas is often associated with holidays; there is even a tradition of celebrating certain events in saunas. A pleasant atmosphere and good company relax and improve your mood, and holidays are often expected rich tables set with junk food and alcohol.

But, unfortunately, no matter how rooted the tradition is in our culture, you should drink and eat in between trips to the steam room. great caution. Why?

A sauna is not a place for feasts: at this moment the body experiences stress from temperature changes and receives a certain dose of positive influence from this, but it is still stress. If you load it heavy food and even more so alcohol, the body has difficulty coping with the stress, and the effect of the procedures is reduced significantly.

Taking a steam bath or sauna means spending time in good company, cleansing the body, and getting benefits for the body. It is not surprising that going to the bathhouse has become a good tradition for us. But even ardent supporters of bath procedures are not always aware of the possible harm that can occur in a steam room.

Therefore, today the editors “So Simple!” will tell you about the benefits and harms of a bath, and will also tell you what you absolutely should not do after leaving the steam room. This knowledge will help preserve health, and in some cases, human life.

Is it possible to go to the bathhouse?

Visitors to the bathhouse do a lot of stupid things, which only leads to harm. Some people apply creams before visiting the steam room, clogging their skin pores and preventing them from sweating normally. Others steam until their skin turns red, a clear sign of overheating. Still others wash in a bath with soap, drying out the skin and thus damaging it.

Inexperienced lovers of bath procedures do not attach much importance to what they will do once outside the steam room. But harm to baths overshadows the possible benefits if you do stupid things without understanding how heat affects the body.

And here’s what you absolutely cannot do in the first 3–4 hours after the steam room.

What not to do after a steam bath

Note that under the influence of high temperatures chronic diseases worsen. Therefore, in case of heart failure, hypertension, tachycardia, as well as after a heart attack or stroke, steaming is contraindicated. In such cases, it is better to consult a doctor about a possible trip to the bathhouse or sauna. Only he will give an accurate answer.

The benefits of a bath is enormous: taking into account all the subtleties of the effects of hot temperatures on the body, you can strengthen the heart, remove toxins, get rid of depression, reduce the risk of thrombosis and other dangerous diseases. But .

Previously, we published the opinion of a famous doctor.