Head to most wellness studios in Santa Monica and Venice and you’ll find cold plunge tubs and infrared saunas. The LA population loves submerging themselves in 40 degree waters and sweating it out in saunas as part of their recovery routines. As a cardiac surgeon at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, Dr. Maria Tehrani supports the increased interest in wellness, but he wants Los Angeleans to know that both extreme cold and extreme heat are stressful to the heart in a measurable way. These practices are safe for most, healthy individuals, but they’re not entirely safe, and for some patients, they can be truly risky.

Cold Water and Your Cardiovascular Health

Cold water submersion invokes a deep and dramatic response called the cold shock reflex. Immediately, blood vessels constrict, blood pressure spikes, and heart rate can increase and become irregular. During this process, most people gasp and your body’s fight-or-flight response is fully activated. For a healthy heart and healthy person, this response and the subsequent cardiac stress is temporary and easily tolerated. However, the spike in blood pressure and sudden irregular heart rhythm can be perilous for someone with heart disease.

Cold air makes blood vessels constrict and forces the heart to pump harder. When this happens to someone with coronary artery disease, heart muscle damage might occur due to insufficient blood flow. An added demand to a heart at risk for arrhythmias can cause an irregular heartbeat. Cardiac incidents have been reported during sudden cold water immersions.

What Heat and Saunas Do to Your Heart

When it comes to saunas, they cause the heart and blood vessels to expand and allow blood flow with less effort. In fact, heart rates during sauna use can be comparable to levels during moderate exercise. Some cardiovascular studies show that blood vessel function and blood pressure can actually improve with consistent sauna use. For many, sauna sessions can be a heart healthy habit.

However, a drop in blood pressure can cause lightheadedness or fainting. This can especially happen if you spend too long in the sauna or quickly stand up and leave. The heart feels the extra strain if you thicken your blood by not drinking enough water. Alcohol is a common mistake made at a Los Angeles pool and sauna, where blood pressure is affected, and judgment is lost, causing you to disregard when you should exit.

The Contrast Therapy Question

Dr. Tehrani is mostly worried about the rapid contrast therapy. This means going from the hot sauna to the cold plunge and back very quickly. This practice causes the blood vessels to alternate between constricted and dilated states. This can cause extreme swings in blood pressure and heart rate. For the young and healthy, this may not be too bad. However, for those who have heart disease, high blood pressure, or heart rhythm issues, the rapid swings can be very detrimental to their health and should be avoided. If done, it should only be done with the okay from their doctor.

Who Should Be Especially Cautious

There are some Angelenos who should be especially cautious and probably should see a cardiac specialist before starting the cold plunge or sauna therapy. These people include those who have coronary artery disease, histories of heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure that is not controlled, and those with heart rhythm issues such as atrial fibrillation. People with implanted devices such as pacemakers, those who take blood pressure and heart rhythm medications, and those who are pregnant should be especially cautious. This also includes older adults and people with a family history of sudden cardiac death.

Practicing These Trends More Safely

If you have a healthy heart you can follow some wellness trends with caution. Ease into cold water instead of jumping in. Ease in helps limit the cold shock reflex. Be brief with cold exposure and be sure to have a buddy there incase you feel light headed. In the sauna be careful with how long your sessions are and how much you drink. When you’re done with your sauna session be sure to stand up slowly. Alcohol does not mix with saunas, be sure to skip it. While you’re in the sauna if you start to feel a racing heartbeat, really bad dizziness or shortness of breath, and chest pain you should exit the sauna immediately and seek help. Those types of feelings should be taken seriously.

When to See a Cardiac Specialist

It’s a good idea to get a cardiac evaluation if you have a health condition that puts you at risk for a heart problem and you want to practice cold plunges and saunas. Chest discomfort, dizziness, shortness of breath and racing heart after using a sauna or cold plunge are indicators that you should get a cardiac evaluation to assess what your heart can handle and to help you with the risks of practicing those wellness trends.

Patients in the greater Los Angeles region have access to advanced cardiac evaluation and care services with Dr. Maria Tehrani. To book an appointment, call 818-350-9899, email at welcome@mariatehranimd.com or visit her office located at 757 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095. Dr. Tehrani’s hours are from 9AM to 5PM, Monday to Friday. Dr. Tehrani is honored to serve the people of Westwood, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Century City, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Marina Del Rey, Pacific Palisades, and Playa Vista.