Sauna when you have a cold: There is no yes or no

Sauna fans disagree on how good a sauna is when you have a cold. There is no clear yes or no. We tell you what is important instead and how you can prevent colds with a sauna.

Sauna when you have a cold: yes or no?

Some swear by sweating out the cold in the sauna. But many doctors strongly advise against it. The basic rule is that you should not go to the sauna with an infection and especially with a fever. The reasons are obvious:

• If you go to the sauna with a cold, you can very quickly infect other people there.
• When you have a cold, your immune system is already compromised. The sauna is then not the right place: Here the immune system is additionally burdened by the hot-cold change and cannot recover.
• Even if you are just feeling the first signs of a cold, you should avoid the sauna. Because then the germs have already been in the body for a few days and can multiply even faster in the hot sauna. The next day you would feel the cold to the fullest.
• Although some health portals advise counteracting the first symptoms with a sauna at a low temperature, there are no studies for a positive effect – on the contrary: a sauna can only prevent colds after several weeks. So take it easy on your body.

Finland: With a cold in the sauna

Experienced sauna-goers, like many in Finland, also go to the sauna with a cold. Your cardiovascular system is used to frequent sauna sessions, so you don’t mind going to the sauna. Although the sauna relieves some symptoms such as a runny nose, experts expressly advise against it.

After the cold: When can I go to the sauna?

If the cold symptoms subside again, you can go back to the sauna. Because at this point you are no longer contagious and the germs in the body no longer multiply.

Note: Taking a sauna will not help speed up your healing process. If you don’t feel well again, it’s better to wait a few more days.

Sauna to prevent colds

In autumn and winter, the sauna is very well suited to strengthen the immune system. The rapid change between hot sauna and cold water hardens the immune system:

• The heat ensures that the vessels expand and the body can relax.
• In addition, the blood can flow faster.
• The ice-cold shower then suddenly causes the blood vessels to contract again – this is similar to exercise.

However, the preventive effect only sets in two to three months later and only with regular use (about once or twice a week).

By the way: If you add two to three drops of eucalyptus oil to your sauna infusion, you can also prevent colds.

Read more at Utopia:

• Sage tea: The effect of the natural cold remedy
• Preventing a cold: How to stay healthy
• Proper sauna: You should pay attention to this in the sauna