Does Using a Sauna Help with Headaches?

Popular culture tends to view saunas and with good reason. It is often associated with relaxation and has several benefits. Experiencing headaches after the sauna session might make it all worthless. It could even cause you to question the entire procedure.

This article explores the possibility that sauna therapy might provide a relaxing remedy for unpleasant headaches by combining professional opinions with scientific research. Now let’s get going.

Sauna Therapy

Sauna therapy is a strong technique that originated in the past and includes spending time in a hot environment. Important in Finnish culture, this tradition has developed over the ages and expanded worldwide, becoming known for its health benefits.

A  sauna session rotates between hot and cold settings. People use this procedure known as thermotherapy to purify the body, enhance circulation, and encourage calm. A sauna’s heat expands blood vessels, which improves blood flow and promotes muscular relaxation.

Information About Headaches

There are many types of headaches, the invisible enemies of everyday life. Tension headaches, defined by a boring painful feeling surrounding the forehead, and headaches, which frequently come with nausea and light- and sound-sensitivity, are the most common. Cluster headaches are less common but cause severe discomfort in groups or clusters around one eye.

There are several causes of these headaches. Tension headaches are frequently brought on by dehydration, stress, and bad posture. Environmental triggers such as strong lighting or certain meals may also impact headaches and genes. The first step to relieving your headache is identifying its kind and source.

Read also: Is It Safe to Use a Sauna with Stitches?

How a Sauna Could Help in Headaches?

Interesting research has been done on the science of sauna therapy’s ability to relieve headaches. The heat from a sauna session can widen blood vessels, improving blood flow to the brain and reducing headache symptoms. This improved circulation helps eliminate toxins, which are often linked to the start of headaches.

It is impossible to overstate the benefits of saunas for relaxation. In the soothing warmth of a sauna, stress a typical cause of headaches is greatly eased. Tensed muscles are relaxed by the heat, which may lessen tension headaches. In addition to encouraging deep breathing, sauna sessions help reduce relaxation and stress.

Possible Risks for Headaches

Sauna usage for headaches may have some benefits, but there may also be some drawbacks. These consist of:

• Dehydration: Excessive perspiration from saunas might result in dehydration. Since dehydration frequently causes headaches, staying well-hydrated before, during, and after using a sauna is critical.
• Heat exhaustion or heat stroke: Extended exposure to high temperatures can result in these conditions, which can have dangerous side effects such as headaches, nausea, and confusion. Pay attention to your body’s signals and take breaks or exit the sauna if you feel sick.
• Irritation of pre-existing headaches: Heat can precipitate or worsen headaches in certain persons. If you discover that using a sauna makes your headaches worse, you should stop using it and see a doctor.

Facts That May Trigger Off a Headache After a Sauna

A sauna is often a wooden structure where individuals may take heat baths. It causes sweating, which has healing properties. You should not be worried because saunas are healthy and safe for everyone. The National Health Service warns against sauna use for pregnant women, however, as overheating may be harmful to their health. These are a few things that might cause headaches after using a sauna:

Dehydration

The most common reason for headaches after sauna. The major cause of your sadness after a sauna session is dehydration. It is defined as losing fluid to the level that the body is left with insufficient amounts for regular organ function. You are already a little bit dehydrated if you’re experiencing thirst.

Why do headaches result from dehydration?

Saunas cause a lot of sweating, which can quickly result in dehydration. The brain reduces due to the veins and brain reducing, pushing the brain away from the skull. Your nerves are strained by this, which hurts.

Some individuals are at risk of slight dehydration, which can result in headaches. Drinking one or two glasses of water helps your brain rehydrate faster, which reduces discomfort. When combined with the following symptoms, dehydration might turn deadly:

• Confusion and sleepy mood.
• Dying.
• Both dark-colored pee or none at all.
• Fast heartbeat.
• Dehydrated skin.

Do headaches come on after a sauna?

No, using a sauna does not cause headaches or migraines in general. Unwinding in the sauna may help treat chronic tension-type headaches (CTTH). People who go regularly really have fewer headaches and less mental stress. After taking a sauna bath, headaches are typically a result of dehydration.

A headache is more frequently brought on by variables such as hormone shifts, stress, certain meals, and sensory overload, however, this varies from person to person. It is quite rare that you would get headaches after using the sauna because of its healing qualities. Unwind and enjoy your bath time. See your doctor for a professional opinion if you are still in discomfort.

Read also: Does sauna use benefit or damage your hair?

How can a sauna session avoid headaches?

Keep clear of diuretic drinks

You should avoid diuretic drinks both before and after the sauna since they increase dehydration. The most popular ones include energy drinks, coffee, tea, and alcohol. Drinks that hydrate the body are preferable because saunas already dehydrate people.

Hydrate yourself

You likely lose a lot of fluid and electrolytes if you have a headache shortly after a hot bath. Ordinary water is sufficient, it is equally vital to restore the electrolytes lost by sweating. Electrolyte pills are your best option if you want to rehydrate completely.

Thanks to a combination of all the necessary electrolytes, including magnesium, potassium, zinc, and sodium, our hydrate mix is made to optimize hydration. It also gives ordinary water a wonderful flavor boost. In addition to being a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals, shakes and fresh juices are good choices for obtaining a rapid dose of fluid and electrolytes.

Higher temperature.

Headaches may arise from heat stress resulting from long sauna use. Your body has a system to control your core temperature, but it often fails because of external factors, like sitting in a hot sauna. Using a sauna may raise the body’s production of antidiuretic hormone, which narrows blood vessels and increases blood pressure.

You could feel like you have a headache after this. Fortunately, with immediate care, there is little risk to life. Any long-term negative effects may be avoided by cooling down and rehydrating with fluids.

Sauna without food

If you eat on an empty stomach and sweat a lot, your blood sugar level will decrease rapidly. Whether you have dehydration or not, it can hurt your energy levels and lead to headaches, fatigue, and dizziness.

Although the sauna may make you feel at ease, your body has to work hard to keep your core temperature stable. Your energy reserves are greatly reduced during the procedure. For this reason, eating a snack at least one hour before using the sauna is usual. 

Suitable clothing

There is no set rule when it comes to clothing for a sauna. It is dependent on the local culture. To fully benefit from this, some individuals also go naked. But the best course of action is usually to wear a cotton towel. It will keep your body fresh in addition to absorbing sweat. Some people wear skull sauna caps because they shield the head from intense heat, which might produce headaches.

Headaches after sauna use caused by medical issues

Many persons who experience discomfort after using a sauna do, in actuality, have an existing medical issue. Doctors observed that individuals with allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, and asthma might all benefit from sauna therapy. Sauna may worsen existing medical conditions like:

• Increased blood pressure.
• Imbalance of hormones.
• Heart diseases.

How can I keep from getting sick after a sauna?

As they say, avoidance is always the best cure. Here are some tips to help you have a wonderful healing experience in a hot sauna while avoiding becoming sick.

• Drink a lot of water both before and after a sauna session to avoid dehydration. You may drink water throughout the session as well.
• Put on light clothes and use towels made of cotton. To prevent overheating, cover your head.
• Avoid letting the temperature become too high, which might lead to heat fatigue.
• Plan your appointment within the suggested 15-minute period.

Alternative Natural Headache Treatments

In addition to sauna therapy, there are other natural ways to reduce headache pain. These include employing stress-relieving techniques like meditation and yoga, applying relaxing essential oils like lavender and peppermint, and staying hydrated. Herbal drinks with ingredients like tea or ginger can also be soothing.

Sauna treatment provides a special fusion of heat and relaxation, which may work better for some people. It is critical to experiment with several natural cures to find the ones that suit you the best.

Warnings and Things to Think About

Sauna treatment is only recommended for some, despite its potential benefits. Pregnant women, those with specific skin diseases, and people with heart disease should avoid saunas or see a doctor first. It is important to stay hydrated before and after using a sauna, to prevent dehydration, which is a major cause of headaches.

Conclusion

Using a sauna can help with headaches. Because each individual’s body is unique, what works for one person might not work for another. Before starting any new headache medicine, it’s good to speak with a doctor.

Remember that although natural therapies, such as using a sauna, might be helpful, they shouldn’t replace traditional medical care. Make sure to consult a doctor if you have severe or regular headaches so that any deeper health issues may be cleared out.

Read also: Barrel Vs. Square Saunas (And Other Shapes)