Can I go to the sauna with varicose veins?
Sauna against varicose veins. Varicose veins are a vein condition – and you shouldn’t go to the sauna with them. At least, this is a widespread belief. Maybe even your family doctor has told you this before. We don’t want to question his competence here. But he is probably clinging to an old idea. Phlebologists as specialists in venous disorders are called, give the all-clear in the latest studies. It is perfectly possible to go to the sauna with varicose veins – as long as a few rules are observed. The alternation between heat and cold can even prevent the vascular disease. We clarify.
More people affected than you think
Up to 50 percent of the population suffers from diseases of the veins. Many do not even know about it. This is because the preliminary stage of varicose veins, spider veins, are sometimes very difficult to detect. So there must be hundreds of thousands of them in German saunas. If the pleasant warmth were really harmful to them – the consequences in the population would be unthinkable. However, it can be assumed that regular sauna users develop far fewer venous diseases than other people.
Training for the vessels
To understand what sauna can do in this case, we need to look at what varices actually are. They are thickened veins that at some point simply can’t find enough room. So they wrap around each other and the blood flow is obstructed. From the outside, you can see this by a network of bluish lines that forms on your legs. In itself, this is not particularly dangerous. But there is a risk of a thrombus (blood clot) forming. This can travel through the body – and in the worst case, block an artery in the heart or lungs. In addition, the varicose veins can cause inflammation of the veins.
Doctors warn against sauna visits because the blood vessels dilate even more in the heat. This is also true in itself. But as soon as you cool down, they contract again very quickly. This is vascular training. In the long run, the arteries become more elastic. But don’t think that you can cure varicose veins by taking a sauna. Once they are there, the only way a doctor can remove them is through minor surgery.
Train your arteries
However, you can prevent the nasty varicose veins by regularly going to the sauna. Vascular training is just the thing for that. Because if your arteries are elastic, they are less likely to thicken. If you want to do even more for your veins, you should use the Kneipp pool in the bathroom. This treading water is nothing but a very fast change between heat and cold. It’s an extra workout that can protect you from vascular disease.
Put your legs up
If you already suffer from visible varicose veins, however, you should already exercise some caution in the sauna. For example, it is advisable to put your legs up in the heat. This will ensure a steady flow of blood. If you put your legs on the floor, too much blood would rush to your legs and feet. This would indeed be counterproductive. If you have varicose veins, you should cool down especially well and then immediately put on compression stockings.
In addition, you should not expose yourself to excessive heat. Relax in a bio sauna at a maximum of 60 degrees. This will prevent your arteries from dilating too much. You should also not take a sauna for too long. 15 minutes is quite common. But if you suffer from vascular disease, seven minutes should be enough. Take a long break after the sauna, at least half an hour. During this time, you should also elevate your legs to ensure a steady flow of blood.
You don’t need to pay attention to anything else when it comes to cooling down. If you want, you can take a running jump into the ice water. It does no harm if your veins quickly contract again.
Conclusion of the editorial staff
In short, nothing stands in the way of relaxing in the pleasant warmth, even with a vein disorder. However, you must follow a few rules. However, even the heat of the sauna cannot cure vascular disease. What it can do, however, is successfully prevent such ailments. And that’s not bad, is it? To be on the safe side, a sauna bath in the above-mentioned cases should only be taken after consulting a doctor.
Important note: The information provided is in no way a substitute for professional advice or treatment by trained and recognized physicians. The contents of Saunazeit Magazin cannot and must not be used to make independent diagnoses or to start treatments.
