Gaby
Saunas have long been regarded not just as places for washing, but as spaces for relaxation, socializing, and even conducting business deals.
The culture of the sauna is rich and diverse, stretching across borders and history, says Dan Baumgardt, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience at the University of Bristol (UK). While the sauna is an integral part of Scandinavian life, particularly in Finland, it is also cherished in other parts of the world.
Baumgardt says the idea of visiting a sauna has changed in recent years. In countries including the UK, more people are choosing the sauna over the pub. He calls that shift audacious. Drinking alcohol before, during, or after a sauna visit puts serious stress on the body.
Maybe drinking at 80 °C appeals to thrill-seekers chasing euphoria, but they often overlook the danger of combining alcohol with extreme heat.
What Are the Risks of Drinking Alcohol in a Sauna?
Numerous studies have analyzed the potential health benefits of sauna visits. Among the benefits researchers have observed are better blood pressure control, aid in recovery from some lung diseases, improved wound healing, and a reduced risk of developing dementia — and those are just a few of the positive effects saunas can have on the body.
However, to reap these benefits you only need steam and calm. Alcohol has no place in the wellness practices of a Finnish sauna.
Baumgardt points to the hypothalamus, a region deep in the brain that regulates body temperature. In response to heat, the hypothalamus triggers increased blood flow to the skin and sweating, which cool the body. But that process is accompanied by dehydration, as reported by Science Alert.
If you amplify that response with alcohol — a diuretic that promotes dehydration — the risk of harm rises.
Both alcohol and high temperatures strain cardiovascular function, often lowering blood pressure and raising heart rate. That combination can lead to dangerous heart rhythm disturbances, or arrhythmias.
This dangerous mix also harms the brain. It impairs cognition and coordination. Baumgardt lists dizziness, fainting, and confusion among the consequences of drinking in the sauna, which increase the risk of falls, burns, or even drowning.
Baumgardt cites an example from the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology: an intoxicated person who died after sustaining severe injuries, including burns, just seven minutes into a sauna visit. Research by Finnish scientists has also found a growing link between accidental deaths in saunas and alcohol intoxication.
Baumgardt recommends limiting time in the sauna and cooling off afterward in a pool or shower. For hydration, he advises drinking only non-alcoholic beverages.
