Is it safe to be in a sauna with a fever?

We all know saunas are a great way to sweat out toxins, improve circulation and relax the body. But what if you have a fever, is it still safe to be in a sauna, and will it ultimately help or hurt you? To answer these questions, we must first understand why we have a fever in the first place.

Understanding cold and flu symptoms:

What is a fever?

There are a variety of reasons why we get sick, but most sicknesses are the result of viruses. When you get infected with a virus, your body's immune system goes into overdrive as it tries to fight off the invader. This can cause your body temperature to rise, resulting in a fever.

Fever is one of the body's natural defences against infection, and helps to kill off viruses and bacteria. By raising our body temperature, we are essentially creating an environment that is hostile to viruses and bacteria. The rise in temperature also causes your body to release heat shock proteins (HSP) a family of proteins that are produced in response to stress. HSPs help protect cells from damage and play a role in cell repair, making them another important role in fighting off infections.

What is a cold?

The common cold is a viral infection that causes congestion, sneezing, and a sore throat. It is the most common illness in Australia, affecting millions of people each year. While there is no cure for the common cold, there are ways to treat the symptoms and make yourself feel better. We've previously written an article on whether or not you can sweat out a cold and we recommend you read it if you want to find out.

What is the immune system?

Your immune system is made up of a network of organs, tissues, and cells that work together to protect your body from infection. The main players in the immune system are the white blood cells, which are responsible for attacking and destroying viruses and bacteria, and can be divided into two categories: innate and adaptive.

What are white blood cells?

Innate immune cells are those that are always present in our bodies, and they respond quickly to invading viruses and bacteria. They do not require any previous exposure to a particular virus or bacteria in order to mount a response. Dendritic cells are a type of immune cell that helps the body fight infection. They play an important role in the immune response and can activate other immune cells to fight infection. They are a type of innate immune cell, meaning they are always present in our bodies and respond quickly to invading viruses and bacteria. They play an important role in the activation of the adaptive immune system, which is responsible for providing long-term immunity against a particular virus or bacteria.

Adaptive immune cells are produced in response to an infection, and they provide more long-term immunity against that particular virus or bacteria. This is why it is important to get vaccinated against common viruses and bacteria, as it helps to build up your adaptive immune system. However, our adaptive immune cells are ineffective against the common cold virus, and here's why.

What is a rhinovirus infection?

One of the reasons why adaptive immune cells do not work against the common cold is because the viruses that cause the common cold are different from the viruses that adaptive immune cells are programmed to attack. The viruses that cause the common cold are called rhinoviruses, and they are very diverse. This means that there are many different strains of rhinoviruses, and our adaptive immune cells have not been exposed to all of them.

Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the body in response to stress. It helps the body deal with stress and can also help reduce inflammation. Cortisol can also raise the body temperature, so it may play a role in fevers. In some cases, cortisol may help increase the fever, while in other cases it may help reduce it. More research is needed to determine the role of cortisol in fever.

How to diagnose rhinovirus infections

There are a variety of ways to diagnose infections, including white blood cell profiles, blood tests, and physical examinations. A white blood cell profile is a blood test that measures the number and percentage of different types of white blood cells in your blood. This test can be used to help diagnose infections and other diseases.

In summary, a fever is one of our body's natural defence mechanisms against a virus or infection in which the body attempts to make the environment uninhabitable for the virus or bacteria. Paired with our immune system, both fevers and our white blood cells protect us from illness.

How do we stop a virus?

One of the ways that our immune system protects us from infection is by attacking and destroying viruses and bacteria. The body produces antimicrobial agents to protect itself against infection. Antimicrobial agents destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They are used to treat and prevent infections and can be found in a variety of places, including the skin, nose, and gut.

The skin is one of the most important lines of defence against infection, and the surface of the skin is covered in a layer of antimicrobial agents that help protect us from bacteria and other pathogens.

The nose is another important site for antimicrobial protection, as it contains a large number of defensive cells called neutrophils. These cells are responsible for attacking and destroying viruses and bacteria.

Lastly, the gut is an important site for antimicrobial defence, as it contains a large number of bacteria that help to protect us from harmful pathogens.

These agents have what is known as an antiviral effect. An antiviral is a drug, natural product, or other substance to inhibit viral replication. Antivirals are used to treat and prevent infections caused by viruses. Some common antivirals include antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals. Viral replication is the process by which a virus copies itself and produces new viruses. This process allows the virus to spread and infect new cells. Viral replication is essential for the virus to cause infection and can be very damaging to the cell.

But can sauna help prevent a cold?

Effects of frequent sauna bathing on the immune system

Regular sauna bathing has been proven to provide a plethora of health benefits, but does it help you fight infections? Let's take a look at the science.

Is an artificial fever as good as a real fever?

As mentioned earlier, one of the body's first defences is to induce a fever to cause an uninhabitable environment for the invaders, typically a core temperature of 38.5ºC. Infrared saunas, the traditional Finnish sauna, and the steam sauna are all effective tools for raising the core body temperature to induce an artificial fever.

From the perspective of the invaders, an artificial fever is as unenjoyable as a real fever. While a steam room and traditional saunas can induce an artificial fever, the most effective, safe and comfortable tool to use to induce an artificial fever is an infrared sauna. This is because the infrared wavelengths heat your core from the inside out. Infrared has lower temperatures therefore the hot air that is in contact with your skin in a steam room or traditional saunas isn't a factor. This form of sauna therapy from an infrared sauna is known as a whole-body hyperthermic treatment.

What does sauna do to white blood cells?

A 2013 study examined two groups, one group of 9 were athletes, and the other group of 9 were non-athletes. Both groups had more white blood cells after a 15-minute single Finnish sauna session. However, the athlete group had even more white blood cell increase than the non-athlete group.

Can regular sauna bathing increase heat shock proteins?

Heat shock proteins play a significant role in recovering from a fever. They help to protect the body's cells and reduce inflammation. In addition, they promote the body's natural healing process. A 2015 review suggests that sauna increases heat shock protein production and is one of the causes of sauna therapy being beneficial for inflammation and diabetes. We've spoken a little more in-depth about heat-shock proteins in a previous blog that we recommend you check out.

So, is it good too sauna with a fever?

Sauna with a fever: Yay or nay?

As established above sauna therapy is a great way to support immune function, address multiple health conditions, and help the body fight off future infections. From inducing an artificial fever to increasing white blood cell count and even producing heat-shock proteins for cellular repair, sauna therapy can surely supercharge your immune system to help prevent illness in the first place.

So far all the studies mentioned have addressed sauna bathing for individual outcomes and not specifically for cold and flu symptoms. However, a 2017 kihd prospective cohort study did look at the effects of sauna bathing on respiratory diseases in middle-aged caucasian men. These results associated regular sauna bathing with a lower acute and chronic risk of respiratory conditions.

It's no surprise that sauna bathing reduces the risk of respiratory diseases and all forms of cardiovascular mortality, this research is a fantastic illustration of how combining sauna bathing with regular exercise may benefit overall health and well-being.

While we've established a strong argument that infrared sauna bathing contributes to the body's same natural responses in fighting off infections and viruses - thus making sauna bathing a safe activity to do that can support healthy immune function - the question still remains, is it safe to sauna with a fever?

Should a sauna be used with a high fever?

As a general rule of thumb, if you are severely unwell - be it a fever or a cold and flu - it is best to avoid additional heat stress altogether. Heat stress is a formidable foe to anybody regardless of if you're at your best or not, and although with sauna therapy you can control the amount of heat stress, it is best to focus your energy on fighting off the illness.

When can a fever become dangerous?

A fever becomes dangerous when it reaches a temperature of 40ºC or higher. At this point, it is important to seek medical attention. A high fever can be a sign of a serious infection or illness. While a fever is the body's way of fighting infection, it's important to use caution if you have a fever.

Is it safe to be in a sauna with a fever?

In most cases, it is safe to get in a sauna if you have a low fever as long as you take certain precautions. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids before and after your warm session and avoid overexerting yourself. If you experience any dizziness or nausea, it may be a sign of heat exhaustion and you may even develop a heat illness.

If you have any of these symptoms and your temperature continues to rise, it is important to discontinue the use of the sauna and seek medical attention. A fever can be a sign of a more serious illness, and it is important to get checked out by a doctor if your fever persists.

Tips for staying safe and comfortable while using an infrared sauna with a fever

There are a few risks to be aware of when sauna bathing with a fever. Knowing these tips will ultimately keep your sauna experience safe and give you the confidence to help you decide if the hot box is something you need right now.

Hydration tips for infrared saunas

First, it's important to drink plenty of fluids before and after your session to avoid dehydration. Salts are minerals that are essential for the body to function properly. They are lost through sweat, so it is important to replace them when you use infrared saunas. The best drinks for salts are water and sports drinks. Water is the best drink for rehydrating the body, while sports drinks contain electrolytes that help replace the minerals lost through sweat. You can also opt for coconut water and fruit juices.

What's the rush? Take it slowly and relax

Secondly, be sure to avoid overexerting yourself when you have cold symptoms or a fever. Remember your body is most likely fighting infection so don't burden it more by knocking on death's door with high temperatures. Even a hot shower can be too much during a fever so be gentle with yourself. Take plenty of breaks and don't push it. In some instances, the humid air and high temperature may help loosen nasal mucus and alleviate common colds and symptoms when using steam rooms.

Quit while you're ahead

Finally, if you experience any dizziness or nausea, just stop. Sauna therapy will be around when you get better, so don't ignore what your body is trying to tell you. Sauna therapy is great to support a healthy lifestyle and provide overall health benefits, but it shouldn't be used as a cure for common colds.

So, if you’re feeling a little under the weather and want to take advantage of all infrared saunas have to offer for your health, go ahead! Just be sure to follow our tips for staying safe while saunaing when you’re sick. And don’t forget that we have a full range of infrared saunas to choose from – so there’s one perfect for everyone. Ready to jump in?