Do not use the sauna in these circumstances!

Food

It is not recommended to use sauna directly after a large heavy meal, and to let your body rest for 20-30 mins after a sauna, before eating.

Exercise

Directly after physical exercise, you should rest for at least 30 minutes. Your heart and mody need a little time to recover before putting more heat stress on the body.

Alcohol

It is highly recommended not to enter the sauna after drinking a lot of alcohol or taking other (il)legal substances.  Alcohol increases the risk of dehydration, hypotension, arrhythmia, and sudden death.

It is not advisable to attempt to “sweat out” a hangover. Alcohol intoxication decreases a person’s judgement; therefore, they may not realise when the body has a negative reaction to heat. Alcohol also increases the heart rate, which may be further increased by heat stress.

Illnesses/Medical conditions

Avoid sauna use if physically or mentally ill. You should only use a sauna when you’re in good health. If you’re suffering from an acute illness (e. g., flu) you should be in bed – not in the sauna. As soon as you’re well enough to get out of bed and no longer feel weak or faint, you can start using the sauna again. People who are ill should also wait until they recover before using a sauna. 

If you are on prescription drugs, be sure to consult with your doctor to see if they will cause any problems for you in the sauna

Likewise, if you suffer from epilepsy or MS, be careful and seek professional medical advice first. Some mental illnesses too, could negatively affect your judgement of the heat or your body’s feelings, so ask for personal advice before using. 

Pregnant

Women who are pregnant or those with certain medical conditions, such as low blood pressure, should ask their doctor before sauna use.

Migraine

Dont use the sauna if you have a full-on migraine. So some people with headache or mild migraines, a sauna can help, but for others it makes the condition worse. Listen to your body – everyone is different.

Periods

In general, there is no reason why a woman should not use the sauna during her period. If your periods are too light, using the sauna regularly can improve your condition by increasing the flow of blood to the uterus. Using the sauna can also help to relieve period pains, since warmth has a soothing effect on cramp-like pain; many women use heat cushions for the same purpose. Take care, however, when cooling down after the sauna, and refrain from Kneipp practices. During your period, you should exercise caution when cooling down, and not hose down your stomach area with cold water. An infrared sauna may not be suitable if you are heavily pregnant

Implants

If you have surgical implants, especially metal ones, please first ask your doctor if it is safe to use the sauna. The high temperatures could cause overheating of the implants or discomfort during use.

Children

Children are safe to use a sauna, but should be supervised when doing so. It is harder for them to regulate their body temperature. They should spend no longer than 12-15 minutes in there at one time, depending on the temperature and humidity.

Elderly

With old age, comes the lessening ability to control our body’s heat, as well as blood pressure and other health issue. Listen to your own body and seek personal medical advice if you want to use the sauna, especially if you suffer from heart or lung problems.