I'm relatively new to lung related issues and not very clued up. I'm from the Lupus uk forum as I have some kind of MCTD/sjogrens auto immune disorder going on. Lately though I have been found to have something called air trapping and small airway inflammation. It was found on a HRCT although my LFT's are fine.
I was wondering if anyone knows how steam inhalation affects this?
I recently visited a sauna and steam room as I know the steam and the moisture is wonderful for my ENT and dryness issues.
On entering though, it almost took my breath away. I sat it out for a while then when I left, I noticed a sign saying "take caution and/or speak to your doctor if you have any respiratory issues". Does this mean it is bad for lung and breathing conditions such as this?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Georgie-girl
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16 Replies
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hi Georgie...i have a respiratory issues and love a hot shower every night and morning. i find that the steam helps clear my nose and throat and helps with my breathing.
it may well be that it the heat in those places that take your breath away. and saps your energy it did for me and that was a long time before i become ill.
as many would say we are all diffrent. so if its having a bad effect on you then dont use it again...doctor will probably tell you the same thing.
Thank you very much for your helpful reply. I don't think it had a particularly bad effect, just wasn't sure if it was a good thing to do or not and got a bit worried whether or not I was doing any harm.
Glad to know I wasn't and glad to know it helps your breathing.
Thank you. I'd have thought it would've been a standard good or bad thing for all. Funny how even the most simplest of things affects everyone so differently.
Hi Georgie-girl I have GERD and I find that whenever I take a shower I get burning in the chest and shortness of breath however if I sit down in the shower with a chair I don't have any issues.
I have MCTD and although I love a hot shower I have to keep the bathroom door open so there is plenty of air in the room. I wouldn't ever dream of going in a sauna or a steam room these days. Even standing over hot steaming pans when cooking is uncomfortable.
We are all different though and I have read on here that steam does help some conditions.
I have COPD and find that any high humidity environment causes an attack of breathlessness, whether it's steamy and hot or cool and raining very heavily. I avoid going out in the fog these days too.
Thank you all so much for your helpful replies. Guess I'm just panicking a bit as it's all so new to me and it seems like ages away till I next see my rheumatologist.
Can I ask if any of you take steroids and at what dose to get some relief? Mine just don't seem to be kicking in.
Hi Georgiegirl, I use steam inhalation for my sinus and asthma problems, I also find a good hot shower also helps. However, I would not go into a sauna or stream room as others have left all their nasty bugs behind and yes the heat is overpowering for anyone with breathing difficulties. Take care and good luck, Maximonkey.
I also use hot steam (from boiled water) on my face where I cover my head with a towel. I do this for my sinusitis and sinus headaches. In the last week though, I’ve noticed I get shortness of breath after steaming and wondered why and how. I wasn’t doing anything else but the steaming, so when I stopped it, I didn’t have shortness of breath. After a couple of nights, I did facial steaming again hoping it’s not the cause, but sadly it is and I had shortness of breath again. I would like to steam on occasion but I don’t know if it’ll just get worse overtime.
Thanks for your comment and even I am currently facing the same. I did a steam inhalation two days in a row for my sinus headaches and since then I have been getting shortness of breath. Like my chest feels very heavy and tight. Can you please let me know how are you feeling now and did it recover on its own or are you taking any medication. I am in my 5th day of shortness of breath.
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