Everyone knows what sinus infections feel like. Stuffed nose, fever, headaches. If these symptoms are all too familiar to you, you might be suffering from chronic sinusitis. This condition is very tricky. Treatment might take months or even years, and surgery is often the only solution. But what if I told you that regular saunas help with this condition? Don’t believe me? Let’s delve into it.
Myth or truth?
For a long time, medical professionals were very skeptical about the benefits of sauna bathing. The problem is that practitioners of alternative medicine typically use sweating rooms. Many of them claim that you can simply sweat out a disease, be it a bad sinus infection or pneumonia. Some ruthless charlatans even advertise their saunas as a cancer treatment.
I assure you, there is no scientific evidence to back up these claims. At the same time, in recent years, researchers decided to look into the possible health benefits of sauna use and by doing so separate truth from falsehood. I’ve looked into these studies and let me tell you some discoveries are quite promising.
Positive effects of sauna
A sauna isn’t some magical cure for all diseases. However, it can help with some nasty sinusitis symptoms.
The studies I found show that regular 20-minute sauna sessions may provide sinus infection relief and even reduce the risk of other respiratory diseases.
According to this 2017 study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, people who use a sauna 3–4 times a week notice a big immune system boost. They become less prone to the common cold, and rhinitis, and their sinus infections get less severe.
Should you use the sauna for sinus infections treatment? How does it work?
Mucous membrane
Mucuos membrane is our first line of defense against airborne diseases. It’s a special tissue that lines our upper air passages, and other organs. This membrane should remain moist at all times. A dry membrane cannot filter out the pathogens that enter our airways.
The humid air in the sweating room keeps the mucous membranes from thinning out. Steam inhalation helps to clear our nasal passages and get rid of nasal congestion.
This effect might be temporary but, in my experience, it’s a great addition to nasal sprays.
Blood flow
Sauna heat also plays an important role. High temperature causes blood vessels to dilate, which helps to improve blood flow in the entire body. Better blood circulation has many advantages.
First. It means more oxygen and white blood cells will reach the infected tissue, and thus your sinuses will heal faster.
Second. Improved blood circulation reduces inflammation and helps to relieve congestion in your nasal passages.
Finally, according to the 2018 Mayo Clinic Proceedings paper, sauna reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and boosts your immunity.
Light therapy in infrared saunas
In my opinion, infrared saunas are something of a novelty. I guess that’s why most studies were mainly focused on traditional saunas like the Finnish saunas. So what are the benefits of an infrared sauna for sinus infections?
Infrared saunas work in a completely different way. I could say it’s a form of light therapy. Unlike other saunas, they don’t rely on heated stones or hot steam to warm you up. Instead, infrared light will be applied directly to your body. I found this very helpful as I was testing the infrared sauna at home.
This feature allowed me to control the sauna temperature much better. Besides, infrared light in infrared saunas penetrates deeper into the tissue and warms your body more evenly.
But do infrared sauna sessions help against sinusitis symptoms? Yes and no. Infrared light encourages your body to fight the infection more actively, but it might dry out your mucous membrane.
The problem is that there’s little to no steam in such a sauna. Dry heat just isn’t as effective at fighting sinusitis symptoms since your air passages don’t get enough moisture.
If you have sinus infections, I’d advise keeping the number of infrared sauna sessions to a minimum or finding additional ways to moisturize your mucous membrane.
Safe sauna use
Does sauna help sinus infection? Sauna can improve the lives of people with chronic and acute sinusitis. And yet, I highly recommend you consult your doctor about it first. If you have regular high blood pressure headaches, the sauna isn’t for you.
Even if you don’t have any heart difficulties, you still need to be cautious. Don’t spend more than 30 minutes in a sauna.
Never overeat or drink alcohol before a sauna. Don’t use sauna if you’re feverish and drink plenty. If you feel unwell, leave the sauna immediately.
Conclusion
Is using a sauna for sinus infection an effective treatment? Saunas can’t cure sinusitis forever, but they can help you get rid of some symptoms. Traditional saunas are more effective, but I noticed that light therapy in the form of infrared saunas also provides some relief.
FAQ
Is sauna good for sinus infections?
Some scientific evidence suggests that a sauna may help with sinus infections.
Do you sweat out a sinus infection?
You can’t sweat out any disease, including a sinus infection. But saunas may provide some temporary relief for most of the sinus infection symptoms. However, you should use a sauna responsibly and along with professional treatment.
Is heat good for sinus infection?
Heat naturally dilates blood vessels, which leads to improved blood circulation. This can temporarily relieve congestion of your sinuses and stimulate your body’s natural healing process.
Can you steam out a sinus infection?
I assure you, the idea that you can steam out an infection is a myth. However, you can use the sauna as a supplementary treatment for sinus infections. Just listen to your doctor, and don’t rely solely on saunas.
What not to do with a sinus infection?
If you decide to treat your sinus infection in a sauna, you must take some precautions. You should never use a sauna if you are feverish. Eating before entering a sauna is also a bad idea. Drinking alcohol before or during sauna sessions is very dangerous.