All we ever seem to hear is the benefits of steam rooms but there must be two sides to everything. While there can be noticeable health benefits there are also a couple of down sides and these are things you should know about before you get addicted to using a steam room. So what are the steam room risks?
Steam Room Risks
There is one obvious risk for the clumsy user. There is going to be a lot of water on the floor and it will be easy to slip while you are in there. Always move around with care as while this may not be a major way people get injured it can be nasty of you fall.
In some cities the health clubs get their water for the steam rooms through the normal water system. It can be contaminated in many places but in countries where there are concerns about drinking the water it can be even worse. The liquid is not too bad because you are not drinking it but remember the liquid turns into a vapour. Here is where the problem starts as you will not be able to help breathing in the vapour.
There are arguments that steam rooms have health values but they can also cause problems for people who have certain ailments. Because you get so hot if you have high blood pressure this can get worse and they can also have a detrimental effect on those with heart conditions. If they were 100% safe there would be no reason to advise pregnant women and children not to use them.
Losing water while you are in the steam room may make you happy as you feel you could be losing weight and also the sweat is bringing out the toxins but it is important that the liquid lost is replaced quickly. Always have a drink of water before you start a session and have another one as soon as you finish. Also don’t start a session within an hour of eating a big meal.
Considering Other Users
You should always be aware of any cuts you have before you go into a steam room. This is for the safety of yourself and other people. As previously mentioned there are toxins in the water and once this becomes a vapour they can get on your skin and into the cut. In the same way if you have a cut and it touches a surface within the steam room there is the chance the germs will be passed onto the next user.
Finally there is something you should remember when you use the steam room. Often you will go straight in after you have finished exercising but it will be best of you wait for a while and let your body cool down. This is one of the major steam room risks as you can get too overheated and end up with hyperthermia. The good news however is that most of the steam room risks you will encounter can be combated if you are careful.