Medications and perhaps allergy shots are commonly recommended by doctors for asthma treatment. Still, there are other forms of natural asthma treatment that may be appealing in addition to asthma medications. Saunas and steam rooms are two long-standing methods of sweat production and cellular cleansing. However, the Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Relief Resource Center reports that these two types of rooms are often used as an alternative form of asthma treatment.
Convenience of Steam Rooms
If a patient happens to possess a steam room or a sauna, this may be a more convenient method of alternative asthma treatment as opposed to leaving the house to go to a doctor and obtain medication. Steam rooms utilize heat and water in an enclosed area to create steam. There are two types of saunas. The traditional type of sauna is a room heated by electricity or gas. The Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Relief Resource Center explains that the saunas which utilize infrared lights take place of traditional saunas as they are easier to assemble and are not as hot. Infrared lights heat up the place in which one sits rather than heat up the entire space. Therefore, infrared saunas take less time to use.
Airway Constriction Relief
Asthma is attributed to allergies, exercise and reactive airway disease, according to askdrsears.com. In all cases, the bronchial tubes in the lungs narrow and inflame. Lungs respond to these incidents in the form of shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest pains. Breathing in warm steam helps break up the mucous associated with bronchial tube constriction. The bronchial tubes open, thereby reducing breathing problems. However, breathing in steam in a steam room does not reduce airway inflammation.
Reduction in Asthma Symptoms
Saunas make users sweat, but do not directly affect the lungs. The vapor in steam rooms, however, can reduce asthma symptoms such as coughing and wheezing. Symptoms may persist until inflammation is reduced, however. The effects of breathing warm vapor are therefore temporary methods of asthma relief.
Steam rooms affect the lungs, as opposed to saunas, which do not expel any helpful vapors users can breathe in. Steam may help relieve mild asthma symptoms but should not be used during an asthma attack.
Benefits vs. Risks of Steam Rooms
Saunas that are equipped with infrared lights heat the skin upon usage. This can dry out the skin when used in excess. If a user has allergic asthma with accompanying eczema, a sauna may actually worsen a skin rash.
The Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Relief Resource Center reports that saunas equipped with infrared lights may possibly damage the skin and cause similar irritation to that of a sunburn. Saunas and steam rooms should not replace medical treatments for asthma prescribed by a doctor. If a patient exhibits severe breathing difficulties, a rescue inhaler should be used and emergency medical attention sought after. Long-term controller asthma medications can help reduce inflammation, thereby preventing the onset of an asthma attack and should be taken daily.
References:
Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Relief Resource Center, "Conventional Steam Saunas vs. Infrared Saunas" (accessed July 15, 2010)
AskDrSears.com, "ASTHMA" (accessed July 15, 2010)
Kristeen Mandak - Kristeen is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University, where she studied Communication and Marketing. She also has field experience in ...
