My girfriend has Systemic lupus erythematosus and we are reading confusing messages regarding the health impact of infrared light on persons with SLE.
On some websites we read positive experiences regarding infrared therapy on other websites we read that for example infrared sauna's may not be used by persons with SLE.
We are wandering because we own a soapstone stove and we recently learned that it distributes 75% of its energy in the form of infrared light and only 25% by convection (warm air)
Does anybody have experiences regarding SLE and soap stove stoves.
Written by
polarbearcv
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I had never heard of soapstone stoves before, and I'm not a physicist. However, google tells me that soapstone stoves are like other stoves, only made of soapstone. This is a metamorphic rock with an exceptional capacity to store and then radiate heat. That's the end of the google search info - please correct me if I got this wrong.
On the other pioints, my understanding is that it's radiation at the shorter wavelength end of the spectrum - ultra-violet - that is usually implicated in triggering flares in SLE. That's confrirmed in the guide to lightbulbs that LUK produced a little while ago - the types which emit light at the redder end are safer than those which emit light at the bluer end lupusuk.org.uk/eclipse/a-gu...
Infra-red radiation is (as the name suggests) even longer wavelength than red light, so it would be odd if it really does pose a threat to people with SLE. After all, we all radiate infra-red radiation! If you could post a link to anything that suggests this, perhaps that might be useful? x
In the part about "Medical conditions and the sauna" I read "Avoid sauna use completely in the case of Lupus erythematosus, if you are on steroids (interferes with blood circulation)"
But reading your response I conclude that the danger of infrared sauna's is probably not caused by the infrared radiation.
I'm happy we can safely continue to use our soapstone stove.
There are Big warning signs in every hotel we have stopped in both in Canada, America and Aus. NOT to use the sauna or pools or whirlpools etc. They seem to know a lot more about things in these countries so Why don't we ? xx
I was actually debating whether to jump in and say anything on this. As far as I can see from polarbearcv 's link to 'the infrared sauna effect', the health warnings they are discussing are not related to light sensitivity in lupus but rather the warnings about potential overheating and dehydration from using saunas (very similar to the warnings hazelHollingsworth has observed).
As you have already mentioned, it is the ultraviolet and blue end of the spectrum that is of most concern for people with lupus because the short wavelengths are more likely to cause cell damage and trigger an immune response. We do know that some people with lupus are sensitive to visible light and have to take a lot of precautions to protect themselves. Infrared has longer wavelengths than visible light and I am not aware of any studies looking at its impact on people with light sensitivity. I'm not a medic or a physicist so I wouldn't like to make any assumptions.
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