Can Saunas be good for CCSVI?

[Perky]

I read an article today about saunas and blood flow;

A daily 15-minute sauna could be the equivalent of taking regular exercise and save you from heart disease, Japanese scientists have found. Researchers at Kagoshima University discovered that two weeks after taking a sauna every day, a group of men at risk from heart disease had significantly wider arteries and increased blood flow. Daily saunas may even reverse the damage to blood vessels caused by high cholesterol levels, according to the researchers.

By raising your body temperature and making you sweat, saunas can also boost your lymphatic system. Your lymphatic system is responsible for ridding your body of all its toxins and if it fails to work properly, you can become more prone to headaches, poor digestion and mild infections such as colds.

Saunas are good for blood circulation, too, warming your hands and feet, as well as directing fresh blood to your internal organs, which helps them function more effectively.

I wonder if saunas could also be beneficial in CCSVI, by widening the veins and improving blood flow to the brain? Does anyone with better technical knowledge of CCSVI than me have any thoughts?

[David1949]

Heat sensitivity is a problem for many people with MS. Some PWMS become completely incapacitated by heat. So if you're going to try it you better bring someone who can drag you out if you collapse.

[Cece]

I was thinking heat intolerance too. If it hurts, don't do it....

[blossom]

if sauna's can widen veins and most of us have our temp. settings on the very cool side to survive daily--could be another double whammy. oh joy. very interesting though.

[elyse_peace]

when I was first diagnosed with ms, a friend suggested sauna. i don't think i would survive it. heat totally disables me.

[Perky]

I hear what you're saying about heat - I've experienced this too, but for me the issue is humidity more than temperature; I've holidayed in very hot but dry countries and have actually felt much better while there.

It seems the university in the article has been using infrared saunas in its studies, and infrared saunas are dry heat, so they might be ok for MSers? I'm trying to find out if the sauna at my local sports centre is the infrared or steam kind.

The more I read about saunas the more I feel they could be beneficial in CCSVI...according to Wiki, saunas have also been shown to be effective in helping to clear heavy metals from the body - like iron?

[Algis]

I'd skip the hot/cold baths and go directly to the massage room

( )

[Nasti]

Saunas are too humid, I'd go to hot rooms (kind of dry saunas, i dont know the name exactly). I have problems in cold, not so much in hot.

[LR1234]

I have tried infared. The nice thing about these is it feels like you are laying in the sun rather than sitting in a stuffy sauna. I did still feel a bit nausous coming out though and spaced out!

Maybe you should look into one of those infared saunas that keeps your head out and just heats the body as maybe it could combat that feeling of heat intolerance which tends to just affect the head (well it does for me anyway)

[Blaze]

Dry heat or humid heat is all the same to me. I can barely walk, become dizzy and have difficulty concentrating and even breathing.

I'll pass on the sauna and stick to air conditioning.

[Salerdog]

My wife is Liberated, SMPS on Coumadin blood thinners. Always cold even with house temp at 23 Celsius or 74 Fahrenheit. Maybe sauna might help.

[PointsNorth]

It's funny, hot showers affect me negatively but sun (tropics + desert) seems to make me feel quite good (in moderation). Strangely, tanning booth (little heat) makes me feel quite rejuvenated. Go figure. A muggy, hot house/home (think sauna) is horrible. Give me hot sun + breeze if possible. Dry is better than humid.

PN

[bettyboop]

Dry heat or humid heat is all the same to me. I can barely walk, become dizzy and have difficulty concentrating and even breathing.

I'll pass on the sauna and stick to air conditioning.

Me too.
BB.