Let’s admit it, we’ve all been there at least once, waking up with a pounding head, sore throat, dry mouth, and upset stomach after a night long drinking and partying. In fact, all you want to do in this situation is somehow find relief. And like all fellow internet creatures, you end up searching for hangover solutions. Now, online forums will suggest you everything from an intravenous drip to lime water and more alcohol (yes you heard it right). But if there’s one remedy that has become a hot topic of discussion lately, it is a sauna for hangover. There are claims that sauna is the most natural and effective way to get rid of a hangover. As a sauna enthusiast myself, I couldn’t help but investigate. More so, as the claims are somewhat similar to my previous deep dive on sauna benefits for detoxification. So, read on as I share my findings on whether or not does sauna help with hangover along with the risks and limitations of sauna after drinking. Sauna for hangover relief: Does it really help? Saunas have become synonyms with detoxification, pain relief, relaxation, and welling across the country. So much so that you now find almost every major gym chain equipped with a fully-functional sauna room. But is a sauna good for a hangover? If you go by traditional Finnish beliefs and norms, the answer would be a resounding yes. You see, apart from being popular for its ancient sauna practices, Finnish culture is also known for late night drinking and merrymaking. And the next morning, you can find Finnish folks sweating out all that booze in a neighborhood sauna. That means the idea of sweating out alcohol isn’t just a myth, right? Well, it's a bit of both myth and reality if you go by scientific explanation. Let me break it down for you by explaining why hangovers happen and what intense sweating does here. Why do hangovers happen after consuming alcohol? In order to understand the sauna hangover connection it is essential you first know what hangovers happen. For starters, there are several reasons that cause a hangover starting from dehydration, inflammation, electrolyte imbalance, and build up of toxins like acetaldehyde. And alcohol consumption is linked to all of these. How? Alcohol is diuretic in nature, which means consuming any alcoholic beverage will leave you with lost body fluids and water deprivation. And this creates the perfect recipe for all the above problems. But that’s not it. There are several other conditions caused by alcohol intake namely disrupted sleep, irritated stomach and dropped blood sugar levels. In fact, these conditions only worsen your hangover and make you feel miserable the next morning. Can you sweat out alcohol in sauna to get rid of hangover? Now that you know why hangovers actually happen, let’s get back to the crux of the matter, i.e., can you sweat all that booze out and feel completely alright. After all, that is exactly what the proponents of sauna for hangover claim. Unfortunately, not all you read or watch about whether or not does a sauna cure a hangover is true. That’s because only a tiny amount of alcohol is lost through sweating in the sauna, which is not enough to cure a hangover. In fact, if a PubMed study on metabolism of alcohol is any suggestion, you lose only about 2-5 percent of alcohol in your body through sweating, urination, or simply breathing. Then how is the alcohol eliminated, you might wonder? Well, over 90 percent of alcohol in your body is processed by the liver, which is in charge of alcohol metabolism. And it is here that alcohol is converted into acetaldehyde and processed further by liver enzymes. As such, the claim that you can go to the sauna for a hangover cure and sweat all that alcohol out isn’t true. However, the idea of hitting the sauna after drinking might not be that bad after all, as you can still expect some relief. I’ve explained how does a sauna help with a hangover in practical terms. How does sauna help with hangover relief? As you can see, the claims that sauna after drinking alcohol can help you get past hangover symptoms falls short. Nonetheless, sauna bathing has its own list of benefits, and these can definitely help you feel better. For instance, one of the aftermaths of a hangover is a constant feeling of sickness. And it is considered good to sauna when sick since it alleviates symptoms like cold and flu. All in all, here’s how do saunas help with hangovers: 1. Improves blood circulation You might already be aware of the fact that a hot sauna ambiance increases overall blood circulation in your body by dilating your blood vessels. And this ensures better blood flow and improved oxygen supply throughout your body, Now, one of the ways improved blood circulation helps relieve hangovers is by speeding up the rate of alcohol metabolism or your body’s natural processing of alcohol. The result: Your liver is able to process and subsequently eliminate alcohol much faster, thus alleviating hangover symptoms. 2. Helps you relax and sleep Some of the symptoms you experience after a night of alcohol indulgence include anxiety, restlessness, stress, and difficulty sleeping. In fact, for a majority of people, these are the most common (and worst) after party experiences. Thankfully, relaxation and stress relief is something saunas are renowned for, thanks to the endorphins or feel-good hormones they help release. Meaning you can count on a sauna for hangover relief in terms of metal calm and relaxation. Moreover, if you’re facing difficulty getting a good nighttime sleep, a sauna session before bed can also help you get a deep and restful sleep. 3. Provides pain relief What’s your first hangover experience in the morning after you had your favorite drinks? It’s most likely a headache followed by muscle aches or cramps. And this happens because of tense muscles that alcohol leaves as it dehydrates your body. But what is the cure? Just like other benefits, saunas are also known for soothing muscle pains and headaches. In fact, this is exactly why bodybuilders and athletes visit a steam sauna after working out. So, you can have a sauna session first thing in the morning and get instant relief from aches. 4. Detoxifies your body Although sauna bathing doesn’t remove alcohol from your body, it can certainly help you get rid of all those toxins. You see, like everything else, alcohol also contains toxins which get stored in your body’s fat cells. And these can be eliminated through excessive sweating as you sit in a sauna. 5. Gets rid of post-drinking blues It is not unusual to feel down or depressed after indulging in alcoholic beverages. But why feel the blues when you can be back in good spirits? Yes, that’s possible with a quick sauna session. Sauna helps boost the levels of serotonin and dopamine, which can make you feel good in no time. Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? What are the risks of using a sauna for hangover relief? So far in the blog, we can agree that using sauna for a hangover relief has some benefits. After all, it helps you stay calm, relaxed, and in a good mood while your body works to remove alcohol. Nevertheless, using a sauna after drinking has some obvious risks too, which includes: 1. Excess dehydration Like I mentioned earlier, alcohol dehydrates your body by increasing urination. At the same time, saunas are also known for their dehydrating effects through excessive sweating. Together, this can be a dangerous combination that will deplete your body of all fluids and electrolytes, leaving you severely dehydrated. And instead of feeling better, you’ll end up with nausea, headache, dizziness, or vomiting, 2. Heat exhaustion (and heat stroke in rare cases) Drinking causes a lot of stress on your body and makes it work at its capacity to metabolize alcohol. Now, if you go to the sauna in this situation, chances are that the hot ambience will cause heat exhaustion or even heat stroke in some cases. 3. Strain on the heart Alcoholic beverages increase blood pressure and heart rate, affecting the overall heart function. Similarly, sauna bathing also increases your heart rate as your body is exposed to the heat. And although it is normal to experience a temporary increase in heart rate while sauna bathing, the combination of alcohol and sauna induced heart rate spike can be dangerous. So much so that it will put strain on your heart and can have deadly consequences for people with underlying cardiovascular health conditions. Bonus: Sauna when hungover is fine but you should also follow proven hangover remedies When it comes to finding relief from hangover symptoms, sauna shouldn't be your only recourse.
Here are a few things I suggest you do apart from sauna bathing:
Sauna for hangover: Frequently asked questions Is sauna good for hangover relief? A sauna doesn’t provide a cure to hangovers and the only way you can get rid of it is by your body’s natural process of alcohol metabolism. But that said, sauna bathing can certainly alleviate problems caused by a hangover and make you feel better. For instance, it can help get rid of head and body aches, provide relaxation, and aid with sleep difficulty. Sauna or steam room for hangover relief: Which is more effective? Both sauna and steam rooms are equally effective when looking for hangover relief. So, the choice between the two should depend on your preference. For instance, a lot of people find saunas less overwhelming since they have near zero humidity levels. And if you’re one of them, sauna bathing should work. Here’s how you can choose between a sauna or steam room for hangover: Go for a sauna if:
What are the common myths around sauna for hangover? The sauna hangover debate revolves around a lot of myths, starting with the idea that you can sweat out alcohol in sauna. Here are some common myths and their scientific reality: Myth 1: You can sweat out alcohol This is the biggest myth that we’ve been fed over the years. Instead, the reality is you can’t sweat out alcohol as it is metabolized by your liver and gradually released from the body. Myth 2: Sauna can instantly cure hangover Sauna bathing can make you feel better temporarily, just like intravenous drips. But it doesn’t cure a hangover. Myth 3: Infrared saunas are better for hangover Yet another myth that’s spread by the proponents of infrared saunas is that infrared rays are more effective at curing a hangover. However, the reality is infrared sauna provides temporary relief from hangover symptoms similar to saunas and steam rooms. Is it safe to sauna when hungover? Yes, it is safe to sauna while you’re hungover, but only if:
To sum up By now, I am sure I’ve cleared all your doubts about the use of sauna for hangover relief. You see, it is completely fine to sauna after drinking if you’re looking for temporary relief and you’re following all necessary precautions. However, you should never make the mistake of looking at saunas as a potential hangover cure. Got more sauna hangover questions or need assistance with your own sauna project? You can get in touch with us! At Steam and Sauna Experts, we are seasoned sauna installation professionals servicing South Florida. Also, our online storefront features a massive sauna inventory from the likes of Amerec, Delta, Steamist, and more. Plus, we ship them all to your doorstep for free. In simple words, we’ve got all your sauna requirements covered.
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AuthorJ.D Moreno
Steam and Sauna Technician and Enthusiast. 786-837-1235 Archives
October 2024
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