hot tub/steam room

Can you use a steam room or hot tub with a pacemaker? j

4 Comments

no problems here....

by swilson10 - 2007-05-30 01:05:10

I have been enjoying my spa since my first PM implantation 2 years ago. (that is when I am not healing from surgery.....) I think it is important to consider what your heart conditions are and what your doctor recommends before deciding. I have Sick Sinus Syndrome and have not had any problems. Not sure about Steam room as my asthma can't take that!

That's the best I could come up with.

by Stepford_Wife - 2007-05-30 01:05:38

Dear Doctor Column, March 22, 2004

Saunas and Steam Baths: Facts and Myths

Question:

Are saunas and steam baths safe? I use the sauna, and sometimes the steam bath, at my health club after strenuous workouts to lessen the soreness and to help with weight loss. Lately, after I use either one, I feel weak and drained when I get out and sometimes dizzy. Should I be worried?

Answer:

Saunas and steam baths, along with whirlpools and hot tubs, are great for relaxing and relieving muscle aches and pains. They do not, however, hasten fat loss or rid the body of toxic wastes. Instead, they hasten water loss, can cause dehydration, and stress the body's cooling systems. The result can be a "drained" and "weak" feeling.

Many people mistakenly believe excess weight can "melt off" in a sauna, just as solid fat used in cooking melts at higher temperatures. The fact is any weight loss you incur from sitting in a sauna results from dehydration, and you regain it once you drink fluids again. People also mistakenly believe that a sauna cleans your pores. Simply washing your skin with a washcloth does more cleansing than sitting in a sauna or steam bath for up to 30 minutes.

No matter what the source of heat — dry air in saunas, steam in baths, or water in hot tubs — can raise the body's core temperature. To keep temperature normal, the body activates its cooling mechanisms; sweating increases and blood vessels in the skin dilate. Prolonged exposure to environmental heat can overcome the body's ability to cool itself. Core temperature above 105 degrees Fahrenheit can damage the heart, brain, and kidneys.

Hot baths are not likely to cause serious overheating unless you are age 65 years or older, have underlying diseases, consume alcohol before or during your time in the heat, or spend too much time in the hot environment. Healthy adults should limit their time to 15 minutes in a sauna, 12 minutes in a steam bath, and no more than 10 minutes in whirlpools and hot tubs.

If you are feeling excessively weak and drained after using the sauna, chances are you are staying in it too long and could be suffering from dehydration, or the environment is too hot. If you are already dehydrated from exercise, going directly into a steam bath, whirlpool, sauna, or hot tub just increases fluid loss. The combination of dilated blood vessels and dehydration results in a fall in blood pressure. If the pressure drops too low too fast, you can experience dizziness, weakness, or fainting because not enough blood reaches the brain.

Older people with heart problems and high blood pressure are more likely to suffer ill effects from exposure to intense heat. Also, children should be carefully monitored. Their smaller bodies are less able to maintain normal core temperatures when exposed to extremes of heat or cold.

Pregnant women also should limit their exposure to saunas, steam baths, and hot tubs. Animal studies have shown that elevated body temperatures (100 degrees Fahrenheit or more) from hot baths and similar environments increase the risk of birth defects.

Healthy people can enjoy prudent use of these baths, which help soothe sore muscles and relieve tight muscles around arthritic joints. Moist air in steam baths can help unclog sinuses and make breathing easier, though people with fever or other illness should avoid them. For those who can safely use them, short sessions provide relaxation and relieve tension in a soothing atmosphere.

Some helpful tips include:

* Cool down after exercise, and drink some water before entering a hot bath or sauna.
* Avoid body oils or cosmetics that can interfere with sweating.
* Do not drink alcohol, eat a heavy meal, or take a sedative before or during hot baths.
* Get out of the heat if you experience nausea, dizziness, hot or cold chills, headache, or any discomfort.
* Change positions slowly to avoid dizziness due to blood pressure drops caused by blood vessel dilation.
* Always have someone else present in case of fainting or other problems.
* Do not jump into extremely cold water, cold showers, or go out into the cold weather immediately after a hot bath. This places undue stress on your heart.
* Get your doctor's permission before using these baths if you have heart disease, risk factors for heart disease, or regularly take medication.

We have pacemakers because of a heart condition, as with everything else, the above advice is the best one.
Be your own judge.
Take care,
~ Dominique ~


"rubber ducky, you're the one"

by valerie - 2007-05-30 01:05:54

I like that song, lol.
Anyway, interesting question. I've never really thought about this. Someone told me that people with heart disease should excercise caution and not overheat their bodies, which could cause demented rhythms. But other than that I guess its fine. Well....

I guess it's dangerous if you just had it implanted and then stay in there long enough for your body to become so soggy, that your skin around your pacemaker site starts to slough off, thus leaving your pacemaker site exposed.
Apologies if this is gross, lol!

Hope this helped...hehehe. Enjoy Burke Williams (or whatever Spa you go to, lol)
take care,
~valerie

whirlpool

by Pacey - 2009-05-09 04:05:35

I was looking for info on whirlpool and pm and this older post came up with a google search

You know you're wired when...

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But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.