If you’ve ever sauna bathed with a friend before then you know it can be a very social engaging activity. So engaging that you might be thinking about adding alcohol into the mix. The truth is saunas and alcohol consumption can be very fun, but can also be very dangerous.
If you plan on sauna bathing and drinking then you should know your limits, understand the risks, and do everything possible to have a safe experience. In this article, we’ll cover those aspects and other useful tips for when you drink while in the sauna.
The Effects Of Sauna And Alcohol
Saunas naturally promote many health benefits. They’re mentally relaxing, good for your skin, help boost your cardiovascular system, and just are great for your overall health. When alcohol finds its way into the mix this just isn’t the case anymore. Instead, alcohol increases your chances of hurting yourself and has negative consequences on your body.
Studies have shown that drinking or being drunk while in the sauna increases your risk of having an accident and hurting yourself. This usually happens because alcohol disrupts your motor skills. Along with this the extreme heat that a sauna promotes cause you to become dizzy. In combination, they make it very easy to have an accident and hurt yourself.
There have even been some cases where people get hurt and then pass out while still in the sauna. You, of course, don’t want to do this as you can hurt yourself or even possibly die (if no one finds you in the sauna).
Alcohol also has a big effect on your body. Sometimes it can lower your blood pressure to dangerous levels, which can then lead you to pass out. Another issue is that alcohol metabolizes much quicker when you’re in the sauna. This increased metabolization can cause you to feel drunk very quickly with less alcohol. Meaning you might feel fine the minute you get inside the sauna, but then the next minute the alcohol hits you hard.
Another big issue with alcohol and sauna use is dehydration. Since saunas already dehydrate you by themselves, adding alcohol to the mix takes your dehydration to the next level. This extreme dehydration can then lead to stomach aches, headaches, and a queasy feeling in your stomach.
Other things drinking in the sauna can lead to is heart attacks, strokes, and heatstroke.
The Big Myth
A common myth that is we hear often is that saunas help with hangovers. This myth basically states the best way to get rid of the hangover is to sweat out the alcohol. This, of course, is not true at all. Instead sauna bathing with a hangover can drop your blood pressure and possibly lead to stroke or heart attack.
To add-on to this, the number one reason most people get a hangover is because of dehydration. Their body simply doesn’t have enough healthy fluids which cause their body to feel bad. Sauna bathing makes this even worse as you sweat out more fluids. The water that you once had in your body is now gone and you feel worse than in the beginning.
So please don’t believe this myth. If you want to cure your hangover then the best things to do are drink lots of water, eat healthy foods, and get enough rest. Time is your best friend with hangovers and the more time that passes the better they will feel.
Moderation Is Key
Now that we’ve drilled in the point that saunas and alcohol aren’t the best combinations, we do want to state that it’s completely reasonable to drink in moderation and sauna bath. We cannot amplify the point more that moderation is key when dealing with alcohol and sauna bathing.
Yes, sauna bathing and drinking isn’t good for you, but if you’re a healthy person and are drinking in moderation then it should be fine. You should only be concerned if you’re completely blasted and you use the sauna. A drink or two before won’t kill you.
Along with the alcohol itself, the time you spend in the sauna should be within moderation. This means if you’re drinking you shouldn’t try to set a world record in the sauna. You should instead go in the sauna for a maximum of 15 minutes. After this, you should walk out, take a little break, and go back in if you feel necessary.
Overall sauna bathing and drinking can be done, but only in moderation. If you do choose to sauna bathe and drink then please understand the risks and be cautious. Remember moderation is key so as long as you don’t over push yourself then you should be fine. So stay within your limits and use your common sense.
(Let it be known that we are not doctors. Sauna bathe and drink at your own risk. If you become dizzy or nauseous at any point then exit the sauna and drink water. So please use in caution!)
Other Tips:
* Bring Water: Anytime you ever sauna bathe you should always bring water. This is especially true when adding alcohol into the mix. So stay smart and bring in lots of water to rehydrate your body.
* Bring A Sauna Partner: If plan on drinking while in the sauna then it’s a good idea to bring another person. This gives you an extra layer of protection as they will be there if you fall or pass out. So be social and have someone else come inside with you.
* Stay Within Your Limits: As we mentioned above you should stay within your limits when sauna bathing. This means not drinking too much or staying in the sauna for too long. So use your common sense and stay within your limits. By doing this you’ll have a safe sauna experience with no accidents.
Want to purchase your own home sauna so that you can sauna bathe whenever you want? If so then visit our home page. Here we have all the sauna information you need to make sure you have a successful purchase. So visit the page and get started sauna bathing!
Other Resources:
If you want more even resources on saunas then visit then links down below.
Books:
* The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy
* Sauna Therapy for Detoxification and Healing
* The Sauna: A Complete Guide to the Construction, Use, and Benefits of the Finnish Bath
