Sauna for hypertension: is it possible to take a steam bath with high blood pressure?

08.08.2017

Last modified: April 14, 2021 at 05:45 pm

Upon reaching 35 years of age, women and men often experience a disease such as hypertension. To maintain health and reduce the likelihood of hypertensive attacks, experts recommend limiting strength training, following a diet, and avoiding many medications.

Since ancient times, we have loved to steam in steam rooms, considering this procedure to be healing and rejuvenating. Therefore, patients suffering from hypertension are tormented by the question: does visiting a bathhouse increase or decrease blood pressure? Let's figure out whether high temperature can really provoke deterioration of well-being and fainting in hypertensive patients and how this affects the cardiovascular system.

The healing effect of a bath on the body

Hot air and therapeutic fumes have a complex effect on the organs and systems of the body. In addition to improving the condition of the skin and the functioning of the heart muscle, the increased temperature in the bathhouse normalizes the condition of the nervous system, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the stomach and intestines, strengthening overall health and reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases.

The effect of the bath on the heart and blood vessels

1. The blood vessels dilate. The resistance of the vascular walls decreases, blood supply improves. This process helps lower blood pressure.
2. The frequency of contractions of the heart muscle increases. Heart rate reaches 140 – 170 beats per minute. There is an increase in the speed of blood flow, which is the prevention of congestion.
3. Diastolic pressure after a bath decreases, and systolic pressure increases.
4. The elasticity of blood vessels increases. The effect of high temperatures on blood vessels is a kind of gymnastics. The vascular walls are strengthened, which reduces the risk of stroke or heart attack.

The effect of the sauna on the nervous system

The central nervous system reacts differently to exposure to heat. It depends on the length of stay in the steam room. So, if a person steams for no more than 10 minutes, then the following changes are observed:

• light perception of the eyes improves (increased sensitivity to bright light disappears);
• motor response to light and sound stimuli increases;
• there is an improvement in the accuracy of movements;
• sleep and concentration are normalized.

If a person spends 20 or 30 minutes in a steam room, the condition of the central nervous system worsens and the functioning of the musculoskeletal system is disrupted.

Effects of heat on the respiratory system

During the bath procedure, alveolar air is exchanged, which is directly related to improved thermoregulation of the body. Due to the increase in frequency and deepening of breathing, lung capacity increases. Normalization or a slight drop in pressure is observed.

Important! The greatest benefit from therapeutic inhalations can be obtained in a bathhouse. Medicinal substances enter the deep parts of the lungs, which enhances the therapeutic effect.

If a patient is diagnosed with rhinitis and swelling of the nasal mucosa, a therapeutic bath procedure will have a drying effect, which will contribute to a quick recovery.

Impact on the muscular system

In this case:

• coordination of movements improves;
• the amount of energy expended decreases;
• muscles are enriched with oxygen;
• recovery processes are normalized.

Don't forget that steam has a positive effect on the skin. The pores expand, which leads to the effective removal of toxins and dirt. Blood flow helps saturate the epithelium with oxygen, due to which the skin rejuvenates and becomes elastic.

Important information: What is binge drinking and why is it dangerous?

The therapeutic effect of the bath reaches all organs and systems of the body, strengthening it, increasing the performance and activity of the brain.

Is it possible to go to the bathhouse if you have hypertension?

Many patients note the negative effects of baths with high blood pressure. The complaints are as follows:

• it gets dark before my eyes;
• there is a buzzing in the ears;
• patients faint;
• a hypertensive crisis occurs.

Therefore, the myth about the dangers of elevated temperatures during hypertension has taken root in people’s minds. However, all negative manifestations are associated only with the fact that people do not know how to properly steam in saunas with high blood pressure.

Of course, it is strictly forbidden to go to the sauna when your blood pressure is high. To obtain a therapeutic effect from bath procedures, you should wait until the pressure normalizes to 140/90.

Important! If your blood pressure is high, take antihypertensive medications and wait until your blood pressure drops to normal levels. Only after this you can take a steam bath in the steam room.

If your blood pressure rises due to nervous strain or as a result of stressful situations, you do not need to resort to taking medications to normalize the condition: you can go to the bathhouse without any fear for your health. On the contrary, exposure to high temperatures will help strengthen the cardiovascular system, which will avoid hypertension during or after another emotional outburst.

If the patient is diagnosed with hypertension of the second or even third stage, then the bath should be abandoned. If the desire to wash in the bathhouse does not fade, then you should remember a simple rule: you should not stay in the bathhouse for more than 15 minutes and it is strictly forbidden to enter the steam room.

Recommendations for hypotensive patients

If for a healthy person a bath is a completely normal procedure, then with low blood pressure it can pose some danger.

Under the influence of the high temperature of the steam room, vasodilation occurs in the body, which, under conditions of pronounced hypotension, often causes ischemia of internal organs.

Given the discrepancy between blood circulation volumes and space, the pressure in the vessels decreases even more.

This condition can lead to sudden fainting during the procedure. If medical assistance is not provided in time, there is a possibility of acute cerebral bleeding or the risk of developing oxygen starvation of internal organs.

So is it possible for hypotensive people to take a steam bath? To avoid undesirable consequences for people prone to low blood pressure, doctors recommend undergoing a medical examination before visiting the bathhouse.

, jokes with blood pressure can result in irreversible changes in the body, so follow all the recommendations of your therapist.

How to properly take a steam bath if your blood pressure is higher than normal

It is very important to steam in case of hypertension in a cooled bath in dry air. To avoid an increase in blood pressure and achieve a calming effect, you can steam a broom made of oak branches.

Important! Closely monitor your heart rate, shortness of breath, and general well-being. If it becomes bad, stop the procedure immediately.

It is permissible to warm up in the steam room for no more than 5 minutes. To prevent an increase in pressure, you should take a horizontal body position. In between visits to the steam room, you are allowed to rinse with water, but the water should not be ice-cold.

The number of trips to the steam room can vary from 3 to 5. It is imperative to observe time intervals.

Experts recommend the following time intervals:

• first approach - no more than 2 - 3 minutes;
• second approach - no more than 4 minutes;
• third run - 5 - 7 minutes;
• fourth approach - 7 - 10 minutes;
• fifth run - 2–3 min.

It is strictly forbidden for hypertensive patients to jump into a pool of cold water or run out into the cold. These actions put a strain on the cardiovascular system, which can cause increased heart rate and acute pain in the heart area.

It is important to drink hot linden tea in a bathhouse or sauna. Drinking plenty of fluids will help the body maintain thermoregulation. Don’t forget to cover your head with a hat and your body with a terry towel.

To protect yourself from the consequences, you can go to the steam room accompanied by friends or relatives, who will come to the rescue at any time.

Attention! Do not forget to take antihypertensive medications with you to relieve an attack.

For hypertensive patients, it is important to maintain the ratio of humidity and air temperature. If air humidity exceeds 80%, then the maximum permissible temperature is 50 °C. At a humidity of 15%, heating can be increased to 90 °C.

After steaming, to normalize your pulse and general condition, you need to lie down for 20–30 minutes. Only after such a rest can you repeat the warm-up in the steam room.

Important information: Effective withdrawal from binge drinking and the cost of the service

conclusions

Hypertension is one of the common diseases of all humanity as a whole. If precautions are not followed, such a disease can lead to the fact that blood pressure can increase at any time and even lead to heart attacks and strokes.

The disease itself can develop hidden, making itself felt only at the 3rd or 4th stage of development. Therefore, many people are unaware that they tend to have high or low blood pressure.

Having become nervous, we attribute such symptoms to stress, and rarely go to the doctor for a consultation. But this is the first signal from your body, and you should definitely listen to it.

For example, if blood pressure constantly decreases or increases for no apparent reason, then before going to the bathhouse or sauna, do not be lazy to visit a doctor and monitor your blood pressure over time.

Before the procedure, try to be less nervous, take sedatives, avoid situations where you feel your blood pressure rising or falling.

It has been scientifically proven that for hypertension, the most optimal steam room option is a sauna.

Compliance with the rules and recommendations (there are enough of them in this article), as well as the dynamic control of the therapist - all this will allow you to enjoy every visit to such body-pleasant procedures.

Rules for preparing for a bath day

To avoid negative manifestations during the procedure and get the maximum benefit from visiting a bathhouse or sauna, the following rules should be followed:

1. Before performing bath procedures, you should definitely consult with your doctor at the clinic. It is advisable to take a blood sugar test. If the permissible amount of sugar is increased, then you will have to temporarily abandon the bath.
2. The day before visiting a Russian bath or sauna, you must limit your alcohol consumption. It is especially inappropriate to drink alcohol-containing drinks directly in the bathhouse.
3. Avoid eating fatty and salty foods before the procedure. 3 hours before visiting the bathhouse, you can eat a small portion of vegetable salad or 200 grams of cottage cheese.
4. At home, apply a rich cream to the surface of the skin - this will protect the epidermis from overheating and moisture evaporation.
5. To reduce the risk of increased intracranial pressure, you should not wash your hair before visiting the bath. A little greasiness will prevent heat stroke.

Follow the above recommendations and you can protect yourself from attacks of hypertension while relaxing in the bathhouse.

Important! When the air humidity in the steam room is high, the heart rate should not exceed 160 beats per minute.

Advice for hypertensive patients

It is difficult to deny yourself such a pleasure as a steam room, even if you have problems with blood pressure.

Therefore, doctors recommend that before going to a bathhouse or sauna, use a few tips in order to get maximum pleasure during such sessions with minimal risk to health:

1. Measure your blood pressure and pulse. This precautionary control measure will allow you to determine the pulse rate and intensity of the heartbeat over time. If the levels are elevated, you cannot take a steam bath, so postpone the trip until your condition returns to normal.
2. Take necessary medications with you. This is necessary in case the condition worsens. A thermos of herbal tea wouldn't hurt either.
3. A felt hat is required when visiting the bathhouse. It will provide the head with protection from steam effects on the brain. In addition, it is a fashionable bath accessory.
4. Be sure to go to the bathhouse or sauna with a group. This is also one of the mandatory conditions. If something happens to you, there will be people nearby ready to help quickly.
5. Avoid sudden changes in temperature. Take breaks of at least 20 minutes between sessions. Precautionary measures are necessary to adapt the body to such extreme conditions.
6. Before visiting the bathhouse, refrain from fatty and spicy foods. Give preference to light food. It could be vegetables or fruits.
7. The day before going to the steam room, you should not drink alcohol or energy drinks.
8. During the rest period between procedures, do not load the body with heavy physical movements, and do not take medications that can increase blood pressure.

The pressure in the bathhouse has risen sharply - what to do?

If suddenly while visiting the bathhouse a person begins to feel unwell and signs of a hypertensive crisis appear, the patient should immediately be taken out into the fresh air.

The first signs of a hypertensive crisis in the bath:

• throbbing pain appears in the back of the head;
• dizziness;
• weakness and trembling of body muscles;
• feeling of heat;
• darkening of the eyes;
• noise in ears;
• significant increase in heart rate;
• feeling of pain and heaviness in the heart area;
• lack of air;
• nausea or vomiting.

If the condition does not improve in the fresh air, you must call an ambulance or the medical staff of the bathhouse (if there is a full-time doctor).

The patient should be placed with pillows under his head and legs, which will facilitate the breathing process. Do not change body position or lift the person. Care must be taken to take an antihypertensive drug.

Drugs that will help lower the numbers and stop arterial hypertension include:

• Captopril;
• Clonidine;
• Angiopril-25;
• Kapoten;
• Capozide.

Important! When exposed to these drugs, blood pressure can drop quickly, so two tablets is the maximum permissible single dose.

If severe headaches occur, the person should be given a diuretic:

• Furosemide;
• Indapamide;
• Indap;
• Acripamide;
• Ionic.

If the patient complains of pain in the heart and shortness of breath, then you need to put a Nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue or drop 20 - 40 drops of Valocordin, Valoserdin or Corvalol into a glass of water.

Often, increased blood pressure in a person causes nosebleeds. To stop bleeding, apply an ice pack to the bridge of your nose.

When a bath is contraindicated

There are a number of restrictions when people with hypertension are contraindicated from visiting a sauna or bathhouse:

• the disease has progressed to the second or third degree;
• with systematically high blood pressure levels, which are difficult to normalize with tablet form of medications;
• in case of hypertensive crises;
• when there are deviations in the functioning of the heart muscle;
• for diseases affecting blood vessels;
• in case of progression of chronic diseases;
• in the presence of a viral infection in the body;
• in case of elevated body temperature;
• when high blood pressure is recorded before visiting the bathhouse - more than 145/130 mmHg;
• when low blood pressure is diagnosed - 100/50 mmHg;
• in case of recent myocardial infarction or stroke;
• with regular nosebleeds;
• during menstruation.

Important! Contraindications should not be neglected. A negligent attitude towards one's health can aggravate the course of the disease and lead to serious consequences, including death.