Key Takeaways:
- Steam showers use heated steam to create a sauna-like environment within the shower
- The warm, moist air may help relieve congestion and open up your respiratory passages
- Studies have shown that steam inhalation can reduce inflammation in the lungs, which can help with allergies and asthma
- Steam showers also provide health benefits such as improved circulation, reduced stress levels, and detoxification of toxins from the body
Steam showers can seem like a wonderful luxury, and they certainly add flair and pizzazz to your bathroom. They are a delightful retreat and one that we all deserve, but they have also been known to have incredible health benefits. Does that include help with respiratory issues, though?
Steam from steam showers can be incredible for respiratory issues, opening up your airways and helping to reduce lung inflammation. It can relieve asthma symptoms, clear the sinuses, and even prevent the mucus membranes from becoming too dry.
In this guide, we take you through everything you need to know about how steam showers can help with respiratory issues and the benefit that steam can have on our lungs and bodies. Through this, you should gain a much deeper understanding of how steam works for us.
Is a Steam Shower Good for Your Lungs?
A steam shower can help to REDUCE inflammation in the lungs by opening the airways. This allows for more oxygen to get into your system, which can help RELIEVE symptoms such as wheezing and DIFFICULTY breathing.
Pro Tip: Steam showers may also be used to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions that are caused by constricted air passageways.
Steam showers can also CLEAR your sinuses. The steam helps to reduce inflammation in the nasal passages, easing congestion and helping you breathe more FREELY. This can be especially helpful if you SUFFER from allergies or hay fever.
Finally, steam showers can help keep mucus membranes MOIST. This prevents them from drying out, which can lead to respiratory ISSUES such as bronchitis.
How Do Steam Showers Affect the Respiratory System?
Steam showers have become increasingly POPULAR over the years, with many people recognizing their therapeutic PROPERTIES for relaxation and rejuvenation. But did you know that steam showers can also be BENEFICIAL to your respiratory system?
Pro Tip: You should try to avoid a steam shower if you have broken skin tissue despite its many health benefits.
When using a steam shower, HOT vapour enters the lungs, which helps open up airways and reduce inflammation in the lungs. This allows MORE oxygen to enter our systems which can help with SYMPTOMS such as wheezing or difficulty breathing [1].
The heat of the vapour also helps CLEAR sinuses by reducing inflammation in nasal passages and making it EASIER to breathe through allergies or hay fever.
Pro Tip: Steam showers keep mucus membranes moist as well, preventing them from drying out and potentially leading to bronchitis or other respiratory issues.
Can Steam Showers Help with Allergies?
Steam showers can be a great way to help MANAGE allergies. The hot vapour generated in steam showers helps to REDUCE inflammation in the nasal passages and open up airways.
Pro Tip: Those who suffer from high blood pressure or poor blood circulation can gain a lot from the benefits of steam.
As a result, it becomes easier for oxygen to ENTER our systems and relieve symptoms such as wheezing or DIFFICULTY breathing. This can be especially useful for those who suffer from allergies or hay fever, as it helps CLEAR the sinuses and reduce congestion.
Are Steam Showers Able to Help with Sinus Congestion
Steam showers can be incredibly BENEFICIAL for those who suffer from sinusitis, a condition characterized by INFLAMMATION of the nasal passages and sinuses.
The hot steam generated in steam showers helps to REDUCE inflammation in these areas, allowing MORE oxygen to enter our systems and relieving symptoms such as wheezing or trouble breathing.
Pro Tip: Steam rooms can also be great when you're congested, but using a steam shower offers fantastic moist heat that gives you relief at home.
Furthermore, the heat of the vapour also helps CLEAR out any mucus that has built up in your nose or throat. This not only reduces congestion but also PREVENTS further irritation of the airways, which MAY lead to even worse respiratory issues.
Does a Steam Shower Help Those with Asthma?
Steam showers can be incredibly HELPFUL for those who suffer from asthma. The hot steam GENERATED in steam showers helps open airways and reduce lung inflammation, allowing more oxygen to ENTER our systems.
This can make it easier for asthmatics to BREATHE and may even help prevent an asthma attack. Furthermore, the HEAT of the vapour also helps clear any mucus that has built up in your nose or throat [2].
Pro Tip: It reduces congestion and prevents further irritation of the airways, which could lead to respiratory issues.
Can a Steam Shower Help with a Sore Throat?
Steam showers can be beneficial for those dealing with a SORE throat. The hot steam helps to reduce inflammation in the throat, EASING discomfort and allowing you to breathe more easily.
In addition, the heat of the vapour also helps CLEAR any mucus that has built up in your nose or throat. This not only REDUCED congestion but also prevents further irritation of the airways, which may lead to even worse respiratory ISSUES and further aggravate the throat.
Can Steam Showers Help with Bronchitis or Pneumonia?
Steam showers can be a POWERFUL tool in the fight against bronchitis and pneumonia [3]. A steam shower releases hot, humid air into an ENCLOSED space, which helps to loosen mucus in the LUNGS and clear out respiratory passages.
Pro Tip: A steam room, steam shower, or sauna can be excellent for cardiovascular health and lower blood pressure as well since they all encourage the blood vessels to expand in the heat.
This can help reduce congestion CAUSED by these illnesses and allow for easier breathing. Additionally, steam showers are known to have detoxifying EFFECTS on the body that can help BOOST your immune system's ability to fight off infection.
By regularly using a steam shower, you may be able to SHORTEN recovery time from bronchitis or pneumonia, as well as PREVENT future flare-ups of these conditions.
Can a Steam Shower Help with COPD or Emphysema?
Steam showers can be a great way to EASE the symptoms of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and emphysema. The steam CREATED in the shower helps to break down mucus, making it EASIER for patients to clear their airways and reduce congestion [4].
Additionally, steam acts as an EXPECTORANT, which helps to remove bacteria and toxins from the lungs. The heat also helps to relax muscles, IMPROVE circulation and reduce inflammation.
Steam showers are a great way to RELIEVE stress and anxiety, both of which can worsen COPD symptoms. For those with joint pain or arthritis, the WARMTH of the steam shower can help provide SOME relief from discomfort.
To Conclude
Steam showers can be incredibly BENEFICIAL for those suffering from a range of respiratory issues, including allergies or hay fever, sinus CONGESTION, asthma, sore throat and bronchitis or pneumonia.
The hot steam helps to reduce INFLAMMATION in the nasal passages and lungs which allows more oxygen to enter our systems and RELIEVES symptoms such as wheezing or trouble breathing.
Lastly, steam showers have DETOXIFYING effects on the body, which help boost your immune system's ability to fight off infection. For all these reasons listed above, it is NO surprise why so many people are turning TOWARDS steam showers for relief from their respiratory ailments.
Sources:
[1] Cafasso J. Steam Inhalation: What Are the Benefits? Healthline. Published July 20, 2018. Accessed March 15, 2023. https://www.healthline.com/health/steam-inhalation#benefits
[2] staff H. How Steam Therapy Can Help Ease Asthma Symptoms. HealthMatch. Published June 14, 2022. Accessed March 15, 2023. https://healthmatch.io/asthma/does-steam-help-asthma#overview
[3] Singh. Evaluation of steam therapy in acute lower respiratory tract infections: a pilot study. Indian pediatrics. 2013;27(9). Accessed March 15, 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2286438/
[4] BobG. National Emphysema Foundation - New Hope for Emphysema Patients: Laser-Focused Steam Treatment For the Lungs. Emphysemafoundation.org. Published 2023. Accessed March 15, 2023. http://www.emphysemafoundation.org/index.php/about-uss/privacy/96-medications-articles/440-new-hope-for-emphysema-patients-laser-focused-steam-treatment-for-the-lungs
Content editor, marketer and product tester. A regular contributor for the ‘Home And Garden’ and Modern Homes Magazines, now part of a close-knit team, I oversee all the content on Posh. All roads have led to this job which I love. I get to focus on my love of interior design and health and work with a fabulous team. The role brings me a good level of freedom to my family and me and keeps me productive
