Who should avoid saunas? Heart conditions, medicines and more

Who should not use a sauna?

Reviews of sauna safety agree that saunas should be avoided by people with:

• Unstable angina: chest pain that comes on at rest or is getting worse.
• A recent heart attack.
• Severe aortic stenosis, a narrowed heart valve.
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure.
• A fever or acute illness.
• Alcohol or recreational drugs in their system.

Who should check with a doctor first?

• Anyone with a heart condition, including heart failure, heart rhythm problems or a past heart attack. Many people with stable heart disease use saunas safely, but it depends on the details.
• People with low blood pressure or who often feel faint.
• People with epilepsy, because heat and dehydration can lower the seizure threshold, and a seizure in a sauna is dangerous. Never use one alone.
• People with multiple sclerosis, whose symptoms can temporarily worsen with heat.
• People with kidney disease or on fluid restrictions.
• Pregnant women. See saunas in pregnancy.
• Older adults who are frail or have trouble with balance.

Which medicines make saunas riskier?

Some medicines change how you handle heat or lower blood pressure further. Ask your pharmacist if you take:

• blood pressure tablets, especially alpha blockers, beta blockers, diuretics and nitrates,
• some antidepressants, antipsychotics and anticholinergics, which can reduce sweating or affect temperature control,
• medicines that cause drowsiness, including sleeping tablets and strong painkillers.

Don’t stop or change a medicine to use a sauna.

What about children?

Children heat up faster than adults and are less likely to say they feel unwell. If a venue allows children, keep sessions short, use lower benches and supervise them all the time.

What should everyone do?

• Don’t drink alcohol before or during a sauna.
• Drink water before and after.
• Stand up slowly.
• Leave as soon as you feel dizzy, sick, have a headache or a pounding heart.
• Don’t use a sauna alone if you have a condition that could make you collapse.