Drinking, partying, and bad habits are out the window in 2025 — this is the year of saunas, cold plunges, yoga, and meditation, driven by Gen Z and social media.
Wellness is in, and the risks feel lower than ever, but there’s one hidden danger many people are unaware of and experts are now urging people to take caution.
Around 25% of people in the UK suffer from hay fever – that’s roughly 16 million of us! And if you’re one of them, this one’s for you.
Wellness expert, Brian Clarke from UK Saunas, warns “Using saunas is a great way to relax, reduce stress and improve your well-being. They can even help ease allergy symptoms, but combining these with antihistamines can actually be extremely dangerous”
“Certain antihistamines can reduce your ability to sweat, and sweating is how we cool our bodies down in high-heat environments like saunas. Without this ability to cool ourselves down, it puts us at a much higher risk of overheating, dizziness or even heat stroke.”
How to safely enjoy the sauna
If you’re taking antihistamines and still want to keep saunas in your wellness routine, here are a few simple steps to protect yourself:
Check the medication label – look out for terms like ‘may cause drowsiness’ or ‘anticholinergic effects’, as these are the types of antihistamines that are likely to stop your body from sweating and could be dangerous.
Stay hydrated – the dangers of this can be much worse if you’re not drinking enough water, it can really increase the risk of overheating. Also, avoid coffee or alcohol around the time you’re planning on using the sauna as these can dehydrate you even more.
Plan in your sauna sessions – If you’ve taken antihistamines, wait until they’re fully out of your system before you use the sauna, check how long they typically last and make sure you don’t go on the sauna within this time.
If you’re not sure, always speak with a healthcare professional before combining any medication with going into a sauna. When the goal is to improve your well-being, it’s just not worth risking your health.
If you suffer from hayfever but aren’t willing to cut back on your sauna usage any time soon, here are a few more things you can try
- Try a daily pollen balm around your nostrils, as this can trap pollen before it enters your nose
- Use a saline nasal spray as it can help rinse out any pollen and soothe any irritation
- Support your immune system by eating foods with vitamin C and Omega 3 as they may help reduce inflammation and allergy symptoms in a natural way
If saunas are off the table for now, you can focus on other wellness alternatives which can support you through the hayfever season
- Yoga and breathwork can help calm the nervous system and improve your breathing
- Herbal teas like peppermint, ginger or even nettle tea can help soothe symptoms and support your immune function
