It was a devastating end to the 2010 World Sauna Championships in Heinola, Finland, on Saturday, Aug 7, when finalist Vladimir Ladyzhenskiy from Russia died after being inside a blistering hot sauna for 6 minutes. Inside, the wooden sauna temperatures were said to exceed a scorching 110C (230F). The annual contest, which has run since 1999, will not be held again.
This tragic occurrence brings up the issue of safety, especially considering saunas are looked at as an integral part of many wellness therapies and are a popular addition to many Toronto spas.
Why saunas are good for the health
Sweating helps eliminate toxins from the body. Heating the body's tissues helps the body heal, much as a fever is the body's own way of battling viruses. Saunas also improve blood circulation and relieve muscle and joint pain.
Are they safe?
When doing any wellness therapy, moderation is the key. Pay attention to your body's signals and follow these important safety rules to maintain a safe healing environment:
1) Don't stay in too long. 15 to 20 minutes at a time is generally considered the max, though other proponents say up to 30 minutes. The length of time the body can tolerate will vary from person to person. If you are sensitive to heat, start off with a short stay.
2) Rest for at least ten minutes afterward. Let your body recuperate.
3) Rehydrate. Drink plenty of water before and after. You may want to eat something salty afterward if you've sweat a lot.
4) Consider the Buddy System. Going into the sauna with a friend or family member isn't a bad idea so that if problems do occur, someone has your back. Besides, a sauna is a social affair.
5) Cool down - there is a long Finnish tradition of going straight from the sauna into the snow. For a less extreme way to cool your body down, take a cold shower. Bonus: this also removes any impurities that your body has eliminated and prevents their reabsorbtion.
6) The heat of a sauna makes the heart work harder. Avoid the sauna if you have heart problems.
7) Never drink alcohol in the sauna and don't go in right after a large meal or strenuous exercise.
8) Know that saunas can burn - too much time in the sauna at a too high temperature can lead to blistering. If your skin starts to sting, get out.
9) If you start to feel dizzy, nauseous or have a headache, leave immediately - there is no point in taxing the body to extremes - especially not in the name of wellness.
How hot is too hot?
The average sauna temperature is about 85C though it can range anywhere between 60C and 110C.
For more about spas, visit the spa page on Wandering Carol's blog at www.wanderingcarol.com
Comments
Is this for real? I never knew that extreme sauna was a sport.
You'd think they would have left the sauna before the temp rose so high that they got seriously burned. But maybe they got incapacitated by the heat - a good reason to use the Buddy system.
Competitive saunaing. Now I've heard it all (thanks to u :P)
too hot!
this number seven rule is kind of funny, theres no harm having a beer or few in the sauna. sure, too much beer is harmful, so is too much sauna, but hey, even russia has its limits.
Well ... competition _will_ be held next year ... don't worry.
Yes, sauna is healthy.
My personal record in 72C temp. sauna is 7h and 28 minutes ... and yes I did drink a lot during that time ... also did rest (like 2 hours inside sauna).
Too weird and too sad. And you should not drink in the sauna! A beer after is fine.
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