It is unlikely that anyone has escaped hearing about the Ozempic craze over the past several years. Whether it is watching a red carpet event and seeing your favorite stars go from a size 2 to a negative 2, or perhaps catching up with old friends that are unrecognizable at first glance. It may also be true that you or someone you love has benefited tremendously from the use of these GLP-1 pharmacotherapies. Either way, with a 589% increase in use since 2019 it is impossible to avoid being touched by these pharmaceuticals in some way. (1) This includes asking questions such as, is it actually safe to use a sauna while on GLP-1 medication?
GLP-1 medications are estimated to globally reach a $200 billion dollar market by 2030, and with 13% of American adults using this pharmaceutical for weight loss the economic growth estimation seems probable. With so many individuals using GLP-1 medication it is not surprising that conversation around contraindications and expectations for activity participation have become necessary. Furthermore, it is important to understand the rapid and widespread use of this medication has not necessarily been met with as much research. So, in answering or advising on contraindications there is not necessarily enough data to say for sure what activities can and cannot be done safely. More time and data are needed. There are a few known facts that may cause some activities to be less safe for GLP-1 users, including saunas.
Whether you are using these hormone replicas for weight loss or to treat type 2 diabetes, it is important to understand the extent to which your levels of hydration will be impacted. Any activities that will impact hydration levels will be exacerbated by the use of GLP-1 agonists, and this includes sauna use. The regular use of a sauna alone demands an uptake in hydration and remineralization, and so does the use of GLP-1 medication, the combination of both may put its users at risk for dehydration. This does not mean that sauna use is out of the question for GLP-1 users, but it does mean that special considerations should be taken into account.
Given the potential risks involved with using a sauna in conjunction with a drug such as Ozempic, users may want to consider the use of red and near infrared light therapy instead. Exposure to infrared light via the phototherapy known as photobiomodulation may help to increase muscle growth which could help those who have lost muscle mass. So, if you have lost significant amounts of muscle mass as a result of your GLP-1 medication consider using an infrared sauna or a ‘red light’ panel device to help grow your muscle cells.
Find out what GLP-1 medication actually is and whether sauna use may be a better solution for you to accomplish the same goals. If you do decide to sauna while using GLP-1 medication, find out how to do so safely, and what alternatives may be available to help regrow lost muscle mass if you are currently using a pharmaceutical such as Ozempic.
What Are GLP-1 Pharmacotherapies?
Known by many different brand names, GLP-1 pharmaceuticals are ubiquitous in our present day pharmacological landscape. You may know them best by these names: Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. (1) This growing industry of medication promises to aid in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, and make a dent in the obesity epidemic. It does not take a rocket scientist to notice that many of its users are neither diabetic nor obese. Nevertheless, the fact remains that 12% of American adults are taking these pharmaceuticals and it does not look like the number is going to decrease any time soon.
Forbes Magazine estimates that the GLP-1 pharmaceutical industry will grow to $200 billion by the year 2030. (1) These money making injectable medications are a huge industry, and it appears that they are here to stay. Behind their infamous use among Hollywood stars, there is some real science to support their use in the fight against obesity and type 2 diabetes.
According to a paper entitled ‘Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)’ (2)
published by the National Library of Medicine, GLP-1 pharmaceuticals are known to stimulate secretion of insulin, and severely diminish appetite. Here is what the authors of this paper write when they describe GLP-1 medication.
“The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a multifaceted hormone with broad pharmacological potential. Among the numerous metabolic effects of GLP-1 are the glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion, decrease of gastric emptying, inhibition of food intake, increase of natriuresis and diuresis, and modulation of rodent β-cell proliferation.” (2)
The GLP-1 hormone is naturally occurring in the body for most people, and GLP-1 agonist medications work by mimicking this hormone.
GLP-1 medications bind to GLP receptors to trigger the effects (or roles) of the GLP-1 hormone. The higher the dose of the GLP-1 agonist, the more extreme the effects. Agonist simply means a substance, hormone, or medication that binds to a receptor inside the surface of a cell. The pharmacological aspect of synthesized GLP-1 agonists is simply that they mimic the naturally occurring hormone and bind to receptors waiting to receive the natural hormone GLP-1.
According to a paper published by the Mayo clinic GLP-1 medication is described well by its authors here.
“GLP-1 medications bind to GLP receptors to trigger the effects (or roles) of the GLP-1 hormone. The higher the dose of the GLP-1 agonist, the more extreme the effects.” (3)
While many resources refer to GLP-1 medication in these terms others refer to them as GLP-1RA. According to a paper published by the National Library of Medicine entitled: ‘Ten Top Tips for the Management of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Adults within Primary Care’ (4) these pharmaceuticals are defined in these terms.
“GLP-1RAs replicate the activity of the endogenous incretin hormone GLP-1, which is secreted by the gut in response to food intake.” (4) The authors continue to describe some of the effects of this synthetic hormone replacement when they write this.
“GLP-1RAs promote weight loss by reducing appetite via slowed gastric emptying and acting on the brain’s appetite centres. They enhance insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, reducing the risk of hypoglycaemia and concurrently suppressing glucagon secretion, leading to decreased hepatic glucose production.”
Given the high number of Americans presently taking some form of GLP-1 medication it is well worth investigating what activities are safe to do while on these medications. Included in this query is the following; is it safe to sauna while on GLP-1 medication? There are several real and valid considerations before using a sauna if you are on a GLP-1 medication such as Ozempic.
Safety Precautions to Take if You Plan on Using a Sauna While Also on GLP-1 Pharmacotherapies
- Exercise Extreme Caution
- Hydration, Hydration, Hydration
- Timing of Sauna Use
- Avoid alcohol & Limit Caffeine
In fairness, it should be mentioned that regular use of saunas can accomplish many of the same goals as taking GLP-1 medication. For example, exposure to the heat of a sauna can help to increase insulin sensitivity, improve cardiovascular health and can also help to promote and maintain a healthy weight for regular users. That being said, if you are prescribed GLP-1 medication and choose to take these in addition to sauna therapy, it is very important to proceed with extreme caution.
There is a time period of adjustment to GLP-1 medication that may take up to six months. During this adjustment period when incidence of nausea is higher it may be best to avoid the sauna altogether. If you do decide to begin using a sauna in conjunction with your GLP-1 medication it is recommended to proceed with extreme caution due to the potential for dehydration.
As GLP-1 medications will reduce appetite it means that fluid intake that occurs through food alone will not happen. This will put its users at risk for dehydration. Even for sauna users who are not on GLP-1 medication there remains a high risk for dehydration unless extremely active precautions are taken. The combination of sauna use with GLP-1 medication could be disastrous for hydration levels. With that being said, it is not impossible to engage both therapies provided hydration is a hallmark practice throughout every day. This means drinking plenty of fluids that are high in electrolytes.
Hydration is the name of the game if you decide to use a sauna while on GLP-1 medication. There needs to be extreme caution used if you choose to proceed as cases of dehydration can be very serious. Furthermore, avoid alcohol which can further cause dehydration, and avoid diuretics such as caffeine. If you choose to sauna while on GLP-1 pharmacotherapies avoid alcohol altogether to ensure your safety.
There is further evidence that timing your sauna use around your injection schedule is important. According to Slim Transformations, it is important to avoid heat after injecting your GLP-1medication. Here is what the authors of their article write about sauna use and GLP-1 agonists.
“MHRA guidance advises avoiding saunas, hot baths, or hot tubs for several hours after injection, as heat can increase redness or irritation. Hot environments also raise dehydration risk, which can worsen dose-related nausea.” (5)
Proceed with extreme caution if you plan to use a sauna while on GLP-1 medication. To be on the safe side consider using an alternative to sauna therapy, for example infrared light or red light therapy. These therapies will help to increase muscle cell regeneration while taking GLP-1, which may become quite important for its users.
Red Light and Infrared Light May Help to Rebuild Muscle Loss For Patients on GLP-1 Medication
If you are using GLP-1 medication, then perhaps it is safest to avoid the high heat of a steam room, or traditional sauna, but you could turn to red and near infrared light therapy to enhance muscle regeneration instead. Unfortunately, GLP-1 medication is associated with extreme muscle loss and as individuals taking these drugs try to regain their lost muscle a great tool could be the use of near infrared light.
According to a paper published by Science Direct, exposure to photobiomodulation, which is a phototherapy that relies on the combination of near infrared and red light to alter mitochondrial function, can help to rebuild muscle mass. So, for anyone who has experienced muscle atrophy, the use of near infrared light in conjunction with red light therapy may be wildly beneficial.
According to the paper entitled ‘Near-infrared light-triggered polypyrrole promotes C2C12 cell differentiation and inhibits TNF-α induced myotube atrophy’ (6) it is well worth using near infrared light to improve muscle growth and development after its loss for any reason (including the use of GLP-1 medications). Here is what the authors of this paper write.
“Studies have shown that photobiomodulation can inhibit skeletal muscle atrophy and aid in functional recovery. Near-infrared radiation (NIR) therapy has emerged as a complementary therapy for the treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy.” (6)
So, while the use of a sauna may be too risky for potential dehydration for those on GLP-1 medications, it may be beneficial to turn to the use of near infrared light to help rebuild lost muscle and ensure that your skeletal system remains healthy after tremendous weight loss.
How to Use a Sauna if You are On a GLP-1 Pharmacotherapy: Turn to Near Infrared Light For Muscle Regeneration and to Avoid Dehydration
While some professionals believe that after an adjustment period to GLP-1 medication that it is likely safe to use a sauna, others suggest avoiding the high heat altogether. Given the fact that no real research has been done to study individuals using both therapeutic modalities, it is difficult with certainty to say how safe it is to use a sauna while on GLP-1 medication.
It is known that both sauna use and GLP-1 medication can increase the risk of dehydration. For now it is most likely best to avoid high heat saunas while taking GLP-1 pharmaceuticals. Instead, turn to infrared light therapy to help increase muscle mass and mitochondrial function. You can use a full spectrum infrared sauna with red light therapy or a photobiomodulation device to induce muscle growth. The heat in your infrared sauna can be set to as low as possible to reduce the risk of dehydration. Coupling your use of GLP-1 medication with phototherapy using near infrared light may help to regain some of the muscle loss.
Avoid alcohol if you choose to use GLP-1 medication in conjunction with a sauna or high intensity exercise, and please maintain excellent hydration at all times.
Ultimately, further research is needed to determine whether the use of GLP-1 medication and sauna are safe to do at the same time. In the meantime if you are really excited about combining the therapies please consult with your prescribing doctor first to establish a safe and effective plan.
Remember that GLP-1 medication may be popular, but they may not be a great choice for everyone. If you are feeling ambivalent about the use of this pharmaceutical remember that sauna use can help with cardiovascular health, the maintenance of a healthy weight, and even increase insulin sensitivity!
Citations:
- https://www.forbes.com/health/weight-loss/glp-1-statistics/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6812410/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonists
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12194299/
- https://www.slimtransformation.co.uk/post/are-there-any-activities-or-environments-to-avoid-after-injecting-wegovy
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S089865682200225X