The neurologist spoke about safety measures during bathing procedures

Bath procedures have a beneficial effect on health, if you approach them, following all the rules and recommendations. Ekaterina Demyanovskaya, an expert doctor at the Hemotest Laboratory and a neurologist, told Izvestia on December 24 how to go to the sauna so as not to harm your health, and who should refrain from vaping.

When a person enters the steam room, the surface vessels expand under the influence of heat, blood pressure decreases, pulse rate increases, blood flow to the skin and muscles increases. Peripheral blood circulation and oxygen saturation of tissues improve, sweating increases, which means that the body gets rid of waste substances and metabolic products more effectively.

"All these processes have a beneficial effect on the body: they reduce muscle tension and help to relax, reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, promote skin cleansing, tissue regeneration, and more active work of all organs and systems. A sauna can help to cope with tension headaches, relax the long back muscles in the cervical and lumbar regions, improve overall well—being, enhance the effect of training and massage," says the doctor.

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To diversify the beneficial properties of bath procedures, if necessary, you can use essential oils. Scents affect the olfactory receptors, which are directly connected to the limbic system — this area of the brain is responsible for working with emotions and the vegetative (involuntary) reactions of the body.

"In the steam room, it is best to use natural oils of coniferous plants (fir, pine, cedar) and eucalyptus. They help improve nasal breathing and deep relaxation, and have a mild antiseptic effect. You can only add oil to the water that is sprayed on the stones. Do not drip them on a hot surface: concentrated vapors can cause burns to the respiratory tract," the doctor warns.

A properly conducted massage with brooms can be of great benefit. Gentle skin stimulation combined with warmth increases blood flow, helps muscles relax, and improves skin condition. It is better to start with gentle strokes: they should be noticeable, but not cause severe pain, burning or discomfort. Do not use a broom if you have skin diseases, rashes, or skin integrity problems.

In order for bath procedures to bring maximum benefit, it is important to follow the rules of vaping. You should enter the steam room gradually, starting with short, 3-5-minute procedures. The temperature should not exceed 90-95 degrees for a dry bath and 70-80 degrees for a wet one. There are proven benefits from less abrupt heating: already at a temperature of 50-60 degrees, the body benefits from thermal procedures, while the risk of overheating and the load on the cardiovascular system are not so high. To help the heart and blood vessels cope with the load, it is important to drink enough fluids before and after vaping. It is recommended to give up alcohol on a bathing day.

While hovering, it is important to listen carefully to the sensations. If you feel dizzy, have ringing in your ears, or have a strong heartbeat, you should immediately go out and rest. If the symptoms persist or worsen, it is better to consult a doctor.

Despite all the benefits of the bath, it has a number of contraindications. A sauna is not recommended for people with cardiovascular diseases such as grade II-III hypertension, severe tachycardia, arrhythmias, angina pectoris, and heart failure. People who have recently suffered a stroke or heart attack, or acute infectious diseases, especially severe ones, should not visit the sauna.

In epilepsy and other paroxysmal disorders, overheating can trigger a seizure. In chronic lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary fibrosis, a sauna can increase shortness of breath and the risk of exacerbation, and essential oils can provoke bronchospasm.

"People over 60 years of age, patients with diabetes, obesity, arterial and venous vascular diseases should visit the sauna with caution," the doctor concluded.

In turn, Irina Volgina, associate professor of the Department of Therapy at the Medical Faculty of the State University of Education, warned that any thermal and physical activity is strictly contraindicated with high blood pressure: hot baths, baths, sports, as well as intensive homework.

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