Sauna with cold – to recommend or better avoid?
With a cold in the sauna. Ahchoo. You’ve got it. You’re flat on your back with a cold. But is it smart to go to the sauna now? Your gut probably says yes. After all, the cozy warmth beckons, and that can’t be bad. If it is a cold, the answer is clearly yes. We explain why – and give you tips for the right sauna bath during cold season. We’ll also tell you how to get rid of a cold really quickly.
When the common cold is approaching
You know the feeling for sure: the limbs ache, and the nose starts to run as well. A clear case: a cold is coming on. If you are an experienced sauna-goer, nothing stands in the way of the pleasantly warm pleasure. In case of doubt, the heat can even prevent the outbreak of the disease. And against aching limbs, an extended sauna session is a real miracle cure. However, you have to follow a few rules.
Don’t overdo it
Even if you are already an old hand at saunas, you should go slower than usual. For example, don’t sit in the Finnish sauna for half an hour. That wouldn’t be fun anyway with your symptoms like cough, hoarseness, and cold. Remember that the oxygen content of the air in the sauna is lower. And especially if you suffer from cold, you get bad air anyway.
So let’s get into the sissy huts. But let me tell you, even 60 degrees will make you sweat a lot. Remember to take long breaks between sauna sessions. And don’t cool off too hard. That would put too much stress on your ailing body. Rather, stand under a lukewarm shower.
If the symptoms haven’t fully set in yet, you’re actually doing your body some good by sweating. You relax, and he has time to calmly deal with the cold viruses. In addition, the cozy warmth brings your immune system to full speed. Maybe your defenses will even manage to fully defeat the common cold.
With fever rather not
Colds are not to be trifled with. That’s why you should avoid the sauna as soon as a fever breaks out. The dry, hot air would be a great strain on your already ailing organism. Especially, the change between heat and cold would be dangerous. In the worst case, you even risk a circulatory collapse. Get in the bathtub at home instead. That helps too – and you can enjoy a little warmth that way.
As soon as the symptoms have subsided, however, nothing stands in the way of a sauna bath. But, as I said, don’t overdo it. If you’re not sure if you can take the heat, it’s better to stay home. Cure yourself in peace and quiet. Afterward, the bath in the warmth is all the more beautiful.
How to get rid of colds quickly
You know, once all the symptoms like cold, cough, hoarseness, and fever are there, you have to go through it. A cure for colds has not yet been invented. But, Grandma has a few tips up her sleeve that you can use to help alleviate the condition. And they really help.
1. Inhalation for colds – take a deep breath!
Your airways are probably pretty congested. Good old inhalation helps against this. The steam dissolves the mucus, and soon you can breathe freely again. If you want, you can enrich the water with essential oils. Use menthol or camphor. The scent additionally provides a liberated feeling.
2. Rub the chest – cold ointments have been proven to help.
Even grandma knew that. After the first sneeze, she probably rubbed your chest with Wick Rub. Soon you were feeling better. This home remedy will still serve you well in adulthood. The essential oils rise directly up into the nose and loosen the mucus there. In addition, the balm warms your chest. This does not have a medical effect. Still, it feels perfect.
3. Hot tea – heat helps with colds
The classic flu remedy from Grandma. But the old lady knew what was good for you. The hot tea warms you from the inside – and helps your body sweat out viruses and bacteria. It doesn’t have to be that nasty cold tea. Just pick a variety that tastes good to you. If your throat is irritated, try chamomile tea. It doesn’t really taste that great, admittedly. However, chamomile has a soothing effect on the skin, including the one in your throat. After a large cup, you will feel significant relief.
4. Chicken soup – why it really helps
It used to be the good part about being sick: chicken soup. Preferably with lots of noodles in it. And it even has real medical benefits. For one thing, the soup warms you from the inside. This in turn helps the organism to sweat out viruses. On the other hand, the chicken broth has a disinfecting effect. Plus, you’ll get the soup down with noodles even with the worst sore throat. And it tastes delicious to boot.
5. Drink a lot – why is drinking so important when you have a cold?
You should always drink a lot for the sake of your health anyway. When the flu has struck, it’s even more important. Your body is stressed right now anyway. On top of that, you’ll probably be sweating profusely. You have to compensate for the loss of fluids. Also remember to support your body as best you can now. This also affects your kidneys, which filter harmful substances from the organism. They only work well when they are well flushed. The more, the better.
6. Compresses and poultices – the most effective way for colds.
Grandma’s home remedies weren’t always great, were they? Wraps and poultices probably weren’t your favorites. But, as I said, the old lady had your best interests at heart. In fact, sweating helps against colds. And the warm wraps will make you sweat. Above all, they do it in a gentle way. Ask a loved one to help you with this and everything will be half as bad.
7. Effectively treat the common cold with essential oils
We had already mentioned it: Use essential oils. You can either inhale them, put them in a scented candle, or draw yourself a bath with the oils. Menthol and camphor or special cold mixtures work best. They do not have a medical benefit. In any case, your airways feel freer – and that’s worth something.
8. High humidity cleanses the respiratory tract
Let’s get back to the respiratory system. They are equipped with fine hairs. They protect the sensitive bronchial tubes, for example. However, the whole thing also has a disadvantage: pathogens can settle on these fine hairs. If the air contains a lot of water, it manages to wash it away. In addition, the humid air also makes it easier for you to breathe. In winter, for example, you can hang a humidifier on the heater. In the summer, this becomes more difficult. For example, a bowl of warm water in the room can help.
9. Rest against cold is especially important
Rest is the most important thing. Your body now needs time to defeat the pathogens. Therefore, you should stop all activities as far as possible. Everything that costs energy is taboo for a few days. But it’s not really that bad, either. Set up camp on the sofa, turn on Netflix and enjoy the series you’ve always wanted to watch.
10. Gentle sweating against colds
Now we’ve just banned you from the sauna, and yet we start sweating again. And for a good reason. You should sweat gently to help your body deal with those nasty viruses. Because this is the organism’s very own way of coping with illness. So step it up a notch – and get better a little faster. It’s best to sit in a hot bath or make calf wraps.
