Extreme heat (sauna) and cold (ice bath, cold river swimming) and ICDs

Hi, I have a traditional sauna at home that I adore spending time in. Are saunas generally thought to be ok for people with an ICD? I have had my ICD for three weeks and I was going to wait 2 months and slowly re-introduce myself to the sauna. any thoughts? My approach was going to be to limit the heat to 80% of what i used to go for and half the time. The sauna only reaches 92 degrees, max. 

I'm also going to Italy in September. We usually splash around in the (very) cold river on hot days, submerging for a few minutes. is this a bad thing to do with an ICD. Will it trigger a shock?

When I see my pacing team at the end of August, I will ask these questions but just wondered if you guys and girls had any experience or perspectives on this.

I know the above things are not critical in the grand scheme of things but I really enjoy them and what's the point of being alive if you can't enjoy it, eh?

thanks for any responses, in advance...

3 Comments

ask your doctor

by Tracey_E - 2024-08-01 09:51:16

There is nothing about the device itself that would prevent you from enjoying the sauna, but the underlying reason you have it might make it a bad idea. I personally avoid them because they make me racy and it doesn't feel good, which cancels out all of the good from the sauna. 

I don’t know

by Lavender - 2024-08-01 19:46:22

But I want to go with you to Italy and swim in the cold water. It's awfully hot here!

Cold water immersion.

by Selwyn - 2024-08-04 12:22:59

Whilst on a recent trip to the Arctic we were invited to jump into the sea surrounded by pack ice.  I declined. Why?

The National Center for Cold Water Safety in USA  warns that sudden immersion in water under 60 degrees Fahrenheit ( 15 deg C)  can kill a person in less than a minute..Plunging the body into cold water triggers a sudden, rapid  increase in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure known as the cold shock response. That can cause a person to drown within seconds if they involuntarily gasp while their head is submerged. The shock also places stress on the heart and makes it work harder. If you have pre-existing heart disease the problems are more likely to occur. 

Wisely, our ship had a rope fastened around the waist of those diving into the freezing cold sea - so they could retrieve the body with ease?

Yes yoiu can get climatised by gradual cold immersions over a period of time. Do I need this risk?

You ask:"We usually splash around in the (very) cold river on hot days, submerging for a few minutes. is this a bad thing to do with an ICD. Will it trigger a shock?' 

Yes - unless you have climatised. ( Talking about physiologicial shock rather than electrical shock, though you may end up with the latter).

`Ref: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2022/12/09/youre-not-a-polar-bear-the-plunge-into-cold-water-comes-with-risks.

You know you're wired when...

You can finally prove that you have a heart.

Member Quotes

Yesterday I moved to a new place in my mind and realized how bad I felt 'before' and the difference my pacemaker has made.