Visiting a sauna and bathhouse for hypertension

Hypertension is a fairly common pathology that occurs due to dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. About 30% of our country's residents constantly complain of high blood pressure. There are many factors that provoke this pathology:

taking medications;
osteochondrosis;
stress factors;
chronic heart disease;
emotional experiences, etc.

Unstable blood pressure affects a person's quality of life. In many ways you have to limit yourself. Therefore, when visiting a doctor, hypertensive patients often ask the question of whether they can take a steam bath. Therapist, Ph.D. honey. Sciences, founder of the “Club of Former Hypertensive Patients”, chief physician of the “Dr. Shishonin Clinic” A. Yu. Shishonin explains how thermotherapy affects the body of a hypertensive patient and whether a bath is allowed for hypertension.

The bathhouse is considered useful

Opinions regarding visiting a bathhouse with high blood pressure often differ greatly between specialists and ordinary people. Thus, it is a widely known fact that heat causes blood vessels to dilate. Thanks to this, visiting the bathhouse makes it possible to reduce the tone of blood vessels and cope with the increase in blood pressure inside them.

It turns out that visiting a bathhouse for hypertension is even beneficial? In fact, this is only a superficial look at the problem, since with steadily increased pressure the vascular wall changes, it becomes less elastic and more fragile. The vessels simply cannot expand as much as they should, and the high temperature in the bath forces them to do this.

That is why visiting a bathhouse or hammam is associated with a high risk of vascular rupture in people who suffer from hypertension. And, as a consequence, the development of severe complications.

Technique for visiting the steam room

Before going to the bathhouse, a person should walk vigorously for at least 30-40 minutes. This is necessary to increase blood flow in the skin and open the pores. Thus, you prepare your body for thermal effects.

After a person has warmed up, he needs to douse himself with warm water. It is mandatory to wear a bath cap on your head. In the bathhouse you should also constantly add water to the stones. This is necessary in order to sweat faster. You should not sit in a dry room. Of course, you need to know when to stop everything. After the sweat has started, you can stay in the bathhouse for about five minutes, after which you must leave the room.

Note.

Knowing all the nuances described above, you can lower your blood pressure without taking pills. After dousing with cold water, you need to put on a warm robe and shoes and go out into the cool air, but not into the cold. Doctors recommend breathing cool air for 2-3 minutes. When breathing, the pulmonary membrane cools, and the person feels relaxed.

When a person is in a steam room, his body overheats greatly. To prevent heat stroke, Shishonin recommends dousing yourself with cold water after leaving the bathhouse. Many people think that this is a lot of stress for the body and the patient will experience a hypertensive crisis. Don't worry, it won't happen. Of course, in a state of crisis this does not need to be done.

Contraindications

A sauna or steam bath is not recommended if the pathology is systematic. Before visiting this type of establishment, you should consult with a qualified doctor. Limitations for hypertensive patients are a number of factors:

the presence of malignant neoplasms;
constant surges in blood pressure;
arterial hypertension of ІІІ and ІІІ degrees;
heart pathologies;
hypotension;
chronic diseases in the acute phase;
age (patients over 80 years old);
congenital vascular anomalies;
respiratory diseases accompanied by hyperthermia.

Bathing for hypertension is completely contraindicated

The advice of doctors who completely prohibit visiting bathhouses for people who have certain health problems, including hypertension, creates the prejudice that the bathhouse is a real threat to health.

In fact, you shouldn't go too far in any case. Visiting the bathhouse is a very important factor in the prevention of hypertension. And if an increase in pressure is detected in the early stages, then periodic exposure to a Russian bath or Finnish sauna will only benefit your health.

In addition, many people who regularly visit baths and take contrast showers do not develop hypertension, even despite the presence of a hereditary predisposition. Constant changes in vascular tone against the background of temperature changes ensure good nutrition of their walls and prevent the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis.

No hammam, no plunge pool

But if the disease has already manifested itself, then contrast procedures should be avoided. Jumping from a hot steam room into a plunge pool and dousing your head with ice-cold beer is not for you. However, before starting the procedures, a competent bathhouse attendant will inquire about your blood pressure, allergies, and even check your pulse. Also, high humidity regimes, which can happen, for example, in a hammam or an unsuccessfully prepared Russian steam room, create a large load on the cardiovascular system.

However, there are cases when going to the bathhouse should be categorically refused. We are talking about obvious hypertension, which persists for many years, the presence of complex cardiac pathology or decompensation of any cardiac disease. Doctors strictly prohibit people with such diagnoses from going to the bathhouse and sauna, since staying in conditions of elevated temperature can pose a fairly serious threat to their life and health.

So, if you are “at risk”, but come to the bathhouse, don’t be a hero, ask for a steam room to be prepared especially for you, and enjoy the pool more. Well, if you love this exceptionally pleasant vacation, but have doubts about your health, then be sure to consult a good doctor.

We make decisions wisely

You should not follow prejudices and completely limit yourself from taking a steam bath in your favorite bathhouse, and it is better to go to the steam room regularly, especially in young and middle age. At the same time, it is not worth exposing your body to additional loads and stress in old age or in the presence of serious cardiac pathology.

Visit the bathhouse and harden your own vessels at a young age, and then you can protect yourself from serious illnesses and visit your favorite steam room until you are very old!

Compatibility of hypertension and baths

Despite the prohibitions, a person has the right to visit the bathhouse. At the same time, you should remember about special rules, compliance with which will protect a person from negative consequences. Before visiting the steam room, you should measure your blood pressure. If they are normal, also listen to your body, there are no unpleasant sensations in it.

Physical weakness, headaches and nausea - it is better to postpone visiting the sauna until later. However, if the patient feels well, his condition can change at any time. To safely survive any changes in the body, it is worth having a first aid kit. Containers with medications should not be brought into the steam bath; they should be kept within walking distance.

The influence of the steam room on pressure

The actual question is: does a bath increase or decrease blood pressure? In a steam room, under the influence of high temperature, blood flows more actively to the vessels and arteries, which leads to their expansion. As a result, blood pressure (especially its lower level) usually decreases. In this case, the patient’s heart rate may increase sharply.

A rapid decrease in blood pressure after a sauna can lead to the following adverse symptoms:

fainting;
acute coronary syndrome;
deterioration of cerebral circulation.

As a rule, blood pressure decreases in the bath, which can cause fainting

[node:field_similarlink]

Visiting the bathhouse and sauna depending on the stage of hypertension

This disease has three stages:

First. The person feels well. Blood pressure goes beyond normal limits under the influence of provoking factors - overload, stressful situations, physical activity. At such moments it increases. When a person calms down, everything returns to normal and there is no need for treatment.
Second. Blood pressure periodically increases. You can return to optimal values with the help of medications.
Third. Blood pressure is constantly outside the normal range. Increased levels require constant medication. You should have a tonometer on hand to check your pressure gauges.

In the first case, you can visit the sauna regularly, but you should monitor your physical sensations. If a patient is diagnosed with second-degree hypertension, doctors do not recommend frequent visits to the steam room. Good health allows you to carry out thermal procedures. In the latter case, bathing is very undesirable, as it can harm a person.

About the benefits of a bath

Many doctors do not share the opinion about the benefits of a sauna due to the fact that high temperatures and air humidity create increased stress on the heart and vascular system. The statement is only partly true: following the basic rules of visiting baths and saunas will help you avoid problems and enjoy your health.

As a result of regular visits to the establishment:

Blood vessels become more elastic,
Mood improves
Fatigue, stress goes away,
Sleep is normalized
The body loses excess fluid
There is a natural cleansing of impurities and toxins,
Improves water-salt balance and metabolism,
Natural skin cleansing occurs
Physical strength is restored,
Increases muscle tone,
Nervousness and irritability go away,
Muscle clamps and blocks are removed,
Your mood improves.

Scientific research has proven the benefits of sauna heat for human health. Doctors recommend regular visits to the bathhouse for those who work in offices, sit a lot and do not have the opportunity for regular sports activities. Steam relaxes muscles and tendons and restores their tone.

By visiting the steam room two to three times a month, you can get rid of kidney and liver diseases, the genitourinary system, arthritis, atherosclerosis and other similar ailments.

Those who have visited a Russian bath know from their own experience what the state after a steam room is like: renewal and lightness, clean skin, calm and relaxation, sound and healthy sleep. Many people note improved digestion, increased efficiency and concentration.

How to cope with the heat easier: simple tips for hypertensive patients

What do you associate with summer? Sun, heat, light clothes, beach, sea, vacation! Especially Siberians, who are not at all spoiled by the weather with warmth, eagerly await this season every year. Walking, swimming, sunbathing, working or relaxing at your favorite dacha, what could be better? Unfortunately, not all of us enjoy June, July and August; many people are afraid and are waiting for the summer period to end as soon as possible. Of course, first of all, people diagnosed with arterial hypertension or hypertension have a hard time enduring the hot season.

Another difficult test for hypertensive patients is stuffy public transport. Cardiologists at the Smitra Clinic recommend avoiding this if possible in the summer heat. What to do in a situation where travel by bus or tram is necessary? Doctors advise be sure to measure your blood pressure immediately before the trip and postpone it if the numbers on the tonometer are too high. If your blood pressure readings are within the acceptable range for you, cardiologists allow you to set off, but remind you that before doing so you need to take an antihypertensive drug that will provide you with long-term protection in such difficult conditions of the short but hot Siberian summer. And do not forget that all medications can be used only after consulting a specialist! An incorrectly selected drug or its dosage, at best, will not bring the desired effect, and at worst, it can cause irreparable consequences.

Hypertension

is a serious and extremely common disease of the cardiovascular system, which, according to statistics, affects every second person who has reached the age of fifty. Hypertension is characterized by a stable increase in blood pressure and can lead to such serious consequences as stroke and heart attack.

Why do hypertensive people have a hard time withstanding heat? The fact is that people suffering from this disease are very dependent on weather conditions, any change in which causes surges in blood pressure. People with arterial hypertension experience sudden warming especially acutely. Heat causes increased heart rate, increased heart rate, stress, anxiety and fatigue - exactly what leads to increased blood pressure. Therefore, hypertension and fever can become a very dangerous combination if preventive measures are not taken in time.

To find out how hypertensive patients can survive the summer period as comfortably as possible, we turned to leading cardiologists at the Smitra clinic for advice.

The first and most important thing that our doctors call for is the maximum reduction in the duration of exposure to the sun, especially in the period from 12 to 15 hours. During the midday heat, blood pressure can rise even in a person with a completely healthy cardiovascular system due to overheating, which causes increased sweating and increased heart rate. Hypertension and exposure to the scorching sun can lead to fatal consequences.

But, of course, there are situations when exposure to the sun cannot be avoided. In this case, as our doctors recommend, first of all, you must cover your head with any hat, wear high-quality sunglasses, and always have a bottle of clean still water with you to replenish fluid reserves in the body. But don't overdo it! For a person diagnosed with hypertension, the maximum daily dose of incoming fluid should not exceed 1.5-1.7 liters, and this amount includes all fluid taken with food. Milk drunk in the morning and soup eaten at lunch should also be taken into account in the total amount of fluid consumed per day. Doctors at the Smitra clinic remind you that both an apple and even a banana have a certain amount of water, which must be taken into account when calculating its daily amount. Why is it so important not to exceed your fluid limit? The fact is that when a person with arterial hypertension enters the body of water in a volume of more than 1.7 liters per day, the amount of circulating blood increases, and the effect of antihypertensive drugs becomes ineffective.

Cardiologists impose another strict ban on working in a summer cottage upside down - an absolutely unacceptable position for a person suffering from arterial hypertension. Its danger lies in the fact that while working upside down, the vessels of the retina and brain suddenly fill with blood. Such acute congestion of blood vessels against the background of atherosclerosis and hypertension can lead to stroke. To work comfortably at your favorite dacha, take a piece of tarpaulin, sew a large pillow out of it, fill it with dry grass or straw, place it between the beds and kneel while working or sit down as you like.

For lovers of summer sunbathing and swimming, good news: water treatments and sunbathing are not contraindicated for hypertension. You just need to remember to use sunscreen and periodically cool off in the shade.

We wish you good health and hope that by following the simple tips from our article, you will spend the summer season as comfortable as possible. Our cardiologists are always ready to help, advise, conduct the necessary diagnostics and prescribe adequate treatment. To do this, you just need to call us and make an appointment with a doctor.

The material was prepared with the participation of cardiologists from the Smitra clinic.

What are the benefits of a sauna?

The positive effect of dry sauna steam and high temperatures on the body is enhanced by dropping a few drops of essential oils onto hot stones. A warming procedure using infusions or decoctions of mint, eucalyptus or pine needles will help you relax, get rid of colds, headaches, relieve fatigue and stress from a difficult day. Dry steam provokes a state of artificial hyperthermia or fever.

The elevated body temperature is then part of the body's natural healing process and triggers the immune system.

Staying in the steam room for 10 minutes has a positive effect on movement coordination, energy metabolism and blood flow to all internal organs. The effect of a sauna on the skin, digestion and heart function is the same as that of a bath: the pores of the skin are cleansed, the work of the heart and blood vessels is activated, and the condition of the digestive system improves.

Hypertension and sauna have great compatibility: even with the second degree of disease, doctors often allow patients to undergo warm and pleasant procedures. Dry steam and lower temperatures have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart muscle and blood vessels.