by Paul Mernon

The very first thing you need to do when making decision to buy an infrared sauna is to check if you can use it safely. This article aimed to help you know if infrared sauna is harmless for you and/or your family members.

Far infrared radiation (FIR) is considered harmless for humans. Infrared heaters are even used to heat premature babies in hospitals incubators. Infrared radiation is often called thermal radiation, reflecting the fact that all objects radiate infrared. Hot objects radiate more infrared than cooler ones – you can feel the heat from the hot cup of coffee, but not from cold table surface. The difference between far infrared sauna and usual room is that in a sauna there is much more infrared radiated on you from the heaters, because heaters are – obviously – hot.

Infrared sauna means excess heat, so contraindications to infrared sauna come from contraindications to hot environment. In general, if you don’t tolerate heat, or have some contraindication to heat, the same applies to an infrared sauna. If you don’t tolerate heated rooms, direct sun rays, hot climate, then probably you won’t tolerate an infrared sauna.

More specific, the list of infrared sauna contraindications includes, but not limited to:

• insensitivity to heat
• haemophilia, prone to bleeding
• cardiovascular conditions or problems (hypertension/hypotension), congestive heart failure, impaired coronary circulation and others
• conditions associated with impaired sweating, like multiple sclerosis, central nervous system tumors, Parkinson’s, and diabetes with neuropathy
• if you take prescribed drug it can impair the body’s natural heat loss mechanisms or its effect can be changed when your body is exposed to far infrared radiation
• pregnancy
• menstruation
• acute joint injuries
• silicone and other implants

Children and old people should use an infrared sauna very carefully, as they are more sensitive to environment changes.

Now you know how to determine if you can use an infrared sauna. However, general advice is to always consult your doctor before making a decision that you need an infrared sauna.

Paul Mernon writes about infrared sauna topics at his Infrared Sauna Info website. It supplies you with an independent view on infrared sauna industry. Infrared Sauna Info has reviews of many sauna models and articles about different infrared sauna aspects. Examples are comparison of 2-person infrared saunas and list of infrared sauna manufacturers.