sauna by the Baltic

[Camelia23]

All being well I hope to be flying to Finland in the middle of August to visit my sister who lives in a beautiful house in and garden on the edge of the Baltic. My sister and family round off the day with a sauna and a plunge into the sea. I have always enjoyed this but have not been since my AF diagnosis of paroxysmal Afib in 2019. My question is: has anyone with Afib had the sauna and plunged into a cold sea for a few minutes. Most gps advise against it but I think they are covering themselves.

[meadfoot]

We had a house with a sauna which I was never keen on using anyway. After being diagnosed with Afib I would not dream of using one, neither plunging into cold water afterwards. It is counter intuitive in my books.

[lovetogarden]

I’ve used a sauna (in Finland!) many times with afib, I really love a sauna! I haven’t plunged into a cold sea or a lake though. I do cool off with a cool shower though. Frankly, I didn’t plunge into the cold sea/lake before I had afib either! 😂

I’m so jealous that you have a beautiful place to visit in Finland. We usually go there every summer, but of course Covid has had a miss a few years. Enjoy!!

[Camelia23 in reply to lovetogarden]

Thank you love to garden. My sister is married to a Finnish guy who loves the summer cottages with their rocks and birch trees. He was a bit annoyed when she wanted to create an English garden at their summer cottage but it all worked out well and is a combination of birches and English gardens including a productive veg plot. The original idea was to live their in the summer and Helsinki in the winter but they now spend all year there which can be a bit harsh in winter. I'm lucky enough to be travelling with one of my daughters and a granddaughter who has fond memories of her great aunt's blueberry pie. Sorry, this is definitely a ramble.Fingers crossed that Heathrow don't cancel our flight in August.

[lovetogarden in reply to Camelia23]

Oh, do ramble on about Finland! I miss it so much. I have to chuckle at the English garden and Finnish birches. They do go together so beautifully. Have you been to Ainola, the home of Jean Sibelius? Just north of Helsinki. The gardens there are as you describe. Lovely flower gardens, veg plots and gorgeous birch woods. Enjoy the trip and yum! Blueberry pies! Fingers crossed for Heathrow.

[Camelia23 in reply to lovetogarden]

Yes, when I first visited Helsinki in the 90s my sister took me to his birth place. I loved all the Finnish /Swedish decor and furniture. I came home wanting to redecorate the whole house. I enjoyed reading your reply!

[lovetogarden in reply to Camelia23]

It’s a beautiful home and the decor is great, but maybe not the green tile fireplace.😀

[Camelia23 in reply to lovetogarden]

I think I will have the cold shower option this year!

[Singwell in reply to Camelia23]

I'm also wondering about Saunas as have not had anything like that since my diagnosis in 2019. I'd go for short bursts to being with followed by lukewarm then cold shower. See how it goes. Stay very well hydrated but perhaps avoid alcohol that evening if you still partake.

[Camelia23 in reply to Singwell]

Thank you Singwell. Strangely enough I've gone off alcohol in the last couple of years. I think my body is telling me to cut it out. I listen to my body unlike a couple of friends!! 😀 Coffee and dark chocolate I love but sometimes two strong coffees can kick off my afib.

[mjames1]

I think that may be an Excellent way to convert from afib to NSR

[Camelia23 in reply to mjames1]

Thank you, mjames1. I will bear that in mind

[mjames1 in reply to Camelia23]

Anyway, enjoy your trip, and please report back what you did or didn't do and what happened!

Jim

[Camelia23 in reply to mjames1]

Thanks Jim, will do.

[lovetogarden in reply to mjames1]

My first noticeable afib/tachycardia event was stopped by an ice cold shower! I still resort to that on occasion. 😀

[Jetcat]

I wouldn’t do it even if I didn’t have AF!!. but that’s only my personal view .!!!It must put a lot of stress/ shock on the body

Going from hot to cold.?

I’m getting anxious just thinking about slowly walking out into cold water and the water getting closer and closer to my lower regions🥱🥱🥱🥱

[Singwell in reply to Jetcat]

Truly - it's amazing. To the a cold plunge after a sauna - it's energising and relaxing at the same time! I'd draw the line at rolling in the show however...

[Jetcat in reply to Singwell]

😂😂👍

[Singwell in reply to Jetcat]

I absolutely relate to cold water creeping up towards rhe nether region's though. 😱

[Jetcat in reply to Singwell]

😂😂👍x

[Camelia23 in reply to Jetcat]

Thanks Jetcat. When I first spoke about it to my brother in law and my British /Finnish nephew they said it was wise to be cautious. The Finns who have saunas followed by cold plunges have been doing so since childhood therefore used to it. When I first visited 18 years ago I started off with gingerly dipping toes into the water till my sister said I would be better plunging in. By the end of my visit I was used to it and enjoyed relaxing on the deck wrapped in towelling robe with a cool beer in hand. And it's true about the endorphins as you relax after sauna and dip.

[Jetcat in reply to Camelia23]

Beer in hand bit sounds nice.😁

[kalgs]

Actually, AFIB aside the effects of cold water plunging can be fatal even for a healthy well functioning heart. A lot of the deaths from drowning each year are caused by this . Look at current news stories .

[Camelia23 in reply to kalgs]

Yes, kalgs you have a point. Usually after a very warm summer the Baltic is not so cold especially near the shore.

[Bodydoctor12]

I’ve done it at my local Turkish baths and have never felt anything but joy. I also cold shower, swim in the sea and I can tell you the Atlantic can be cold!! Enjoy it - fear can be a huge trigger in AF, for me anyway.

[Tapanac]

I have been advised not to have a sauna or hot tub. I can’t think that a change of temperature hot to cold would do afib any good as maybe a bit if a shock to the system. I remember last year or year before I was so hot in the night thst I got up and had a cold shower. Almost immediate tachycardia and afib attack after thst

This is just my own opinion (apart from consultant telling me about saunas and hot tubs)

Anyway have a super time with your sister

[Camelia23 in reply to Tapanac]

Thanks Tapanac. Five years ago when I visited with my husband and before my diagnosis I asked my gp about the safety of sauna. I happened to see a Greek doctor at the time and he said "No, you must not do that! They are mad!!!" 😂

[vladyvlad]

I also had paroxysmal afib before my second ablation recently which seems to cured it!! I am very grateful for that.

To your question, before my last visit with my EP I want to a sauna and then plunged into a cold pool. When I went to the doctor I had afib. So going from hot to cold put me into afib I am pretty sure. But I have also done the same thing previously and afib did not come back.

I hope this somehow

Helps your decision.

Good Luck!!

[Jetcat in reply to vladyvlad]

Interestingly enough before my ablations I noticed on a good few occasions that I could knock myself back into sinus rhythm by drinking ice cold water.!!!

[Camelia23 in reply to vladyvlad]

Thanks vladyvlad

[Snowgirl65]

I would think that if you were in the midst of an a-fib episode, doing the sauna/sea routine would most likely revert you back to NSR! I'd be wary of it, but your Finland trip sounds fun nonetheless and wish you well if you do decide on the sauna.

[Camelia23 in reply to Snowgirl65]

Thank you Snowgirl65

[Ducky2003]

I only had a sauna once, long before AF moved in, and passed out so I wouldn't dare try one now. Mind you, when hubby has a shower without switching on the extractor fan or opening a window, it can be like a bloomin sauna. I guess its weighing up how much you want a sauna and cold dip over the chance of it triggering something. 🤷‍♀️.