It is recommended not to use sauna in 24 hours from exposure to UV ra-
diation from artifi cial sources or sun bath.
Prescription drugs:
ask your doctor or pharmacist about potential inter-
action of the sauna with your medication. Some drugs, such as diuretics,
antihistamines, beta blockers and barbiturates may negatively aff ect the natu-
ral heat regulating property of human body. This category includes both pre-
scription and some over-the-counter drugs.
Heart diseases:
infra red therapy is not recommended to patients with
some heart diseases including hypertension or hypotension, chronic
heart failure or problems with coronary circulation. If you suff er from any of
the above mentioned diseases, long exposure to increased temperatures may
be dangerous for direct eff ects of the heat include increased heartbeat by about
10 pulses per minute (in some cases by up to 30 pulses per minute) per one
degree of raise body temperature. This contraindication also applies to pa-
tients taking drugs for their blood pressure control or using pacemaker - some
infra red saunas may contain magnets that may aff ect pacemaker operation.
Children and seniors are the two age groups for which sauna use should
fi rst be consulted with a doctor. Although sauna use is generally safe and
healthy for both these age groups, body temperature rises much quicker in
children than in adults and their thermal regulation property by sweating is
not as developed as in the case of adults. Similarly the ability to keep the opti-
mum body temperature and the function of the sweat glands is reduced with
increasing age and that is why both these age groups require caution and con-
sultation with a doctor before use of infra red therapy.
Joint issues:
acute joint injury should not be heated in the course of the
fi rst 48 hours or until the associated reddening or swell disappears.
Chronic joint swells may not react positively to sauna use.
Pregnancy:
infra red sauna use during (suspected) pregnancy is not rec-
ommended. Increased body temperature may increase temperature of the
amniotic fl uid which in extreme cases may lead to damage to the foetus or in-
digenous defect development. Pregnant women may develop body overheating
leading to loss of conscience more easily. The heart and the vascular system
increase their performance in the case of pregnancy even under normal ambi-
ent conditions to be able to feed the developing foetus, and body overheating
further increases the demand for the heart and the vascular system. This re-
duces bloodstream to the internal anatomies including the heart and may lead
to loss of conscience.
Certain other diseases:
increased body temperature may not be suitable
for individuals with multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematodes,
diabetic neuropathy, Parkinson disease, tumours of the central nerve system or
When not tou use sauna
4
adrenalin insuffi
ciency (for example in the case of Addison disease). People
suff ering from haemophilia or bleeding episodes should also avoid sauna use
for heat widens the blood vessels.
Sauna is further not recommended to people suff ering from fever or sen-
sitive to heat. Metal screws, joint replacements and other implants usu-
ally refl ect long-wave infra red radiation and therefore do not heat up. On the
other hand, silicon implants absorb infra red radiation and may heat together
with the surrounding tissue, but as silicon melts at temperatures over 200°C,
infra red light should not have any negative eff ect on therm. However, every
patient with an implant should consult sauna use with their surgeon. Like in
the case of massage sauna use is not recommended in the case of any infectious
disease, under the eff ect of alcohol or narcotics. And like in the case of any
other similar activity: If you feel discomfort inside your sauna, or even pain or
worsening of your health state, leave the sauna immediately.
In the case of any health problems always consult sau-
na use with your attending physician!
Caution: If your skin reddening persists for more than
one day after sauna use, do not repeat sauna therapy
and consult your doctor.
5
