RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—The case surrounding two deaths at a makeshift sweat lodge outside Sedona, Arizona, got more complicated last Thursday, as the investigation turned from one of accidental deaths to a potential homicide. The two people, a 38-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man, both of whom were relatively healthy, died after spending two hours inside the tent at a sweat-lodge ceremony, while 19 others were hospitalized. Autopsies have been performed, but results related to cause of death haven't been released, pending a toxicology report.
While the investigation is still ongoing, the risks of these sweat lodges bear some scrutiny. And even in the safer environment of a health club or home sauna, safety precautions should be taken seriously.
THE DETAILS: Sweat lodges have been traditionally used by Native Americans for spiritual ceremonies, but in modern times the concept has also been co-opted by New Age spiritualists who use them for cleansing rituals like the one attended by the two people in Arizona. Traditional sweat lodges are made from natural materials that allow airflow, but in this case, the lodge was made from layers of plastic tarpaulin covered in heavy blankets. According to news reports about the incident, between 55 and 65 people were sitting inside a small tent that was 53 inches tall at its highest, and temperatures inside this plastic tent reached 120 degrees F. Many had been fasting for 36 hours leading up to the event, with one meal three hours before the "sweat." Those who were hospitalized suffered from dehydration, burns, and respiratory problems.
While the tragedy out in Arizona is unusual, it isn't the first instance of people dying in sweat lodges. According to the anti-New Age website, Newagefraud.org, seven people have died at sweat-lodge ceremonies since 1980, many of which took place when summer temperatures were at their peak. The case of a man who died in 2004 at a lodge in the Australian Outback was reported in the journal American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, and the authors coined the term "sweat lodge syndrome," characterized by prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures in a relatively uncontrolled environment, failure to ensure adequate hydration, failure to appreciate the significance of loss of consciousness, use of ineffective alternative methods of treatment, and delay in seeking appropriate medical care. At the time, the authors wrote, "Unfortunately, the adoption of rituals and practice from other cultures may not be a completely safe undertaking."
WHAT IT MEANS: One of the most problematic and cautionary tales of this incident could be the fact that the lodge itself wasn't approved by a local building inspector, as is required of spas and saunas, says Jeffrey Rossman, PhD, Rodale.com advisor and director of life management at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts, which does have a sauna on site. "Most saunas in America have a thermostat that can be set and monitored," he says, "so a user can know what the temperature is in the sauna. Also, the thermostat in a sauna would have a top temperature that theoretically could not be exceeded. That would not be the case in a traditionally built sweat lodge."
Yet people who enjoy an hour or two in a sauna could still learn from the event. Heart conditions and high blood pressure can be exacerbated by excessive heat, says Rossman. "In the high heat in a sauna, blood flow to the surface of the skin increases, blood vessels dilate and there is a corresponding drop in blood pressure. The heart rate speeds up to compensate," he adds.
Whether in a sauna or sweat lodge, here are a few tips to keep yourself safe:
• Leave the light on. "Typically, sweat lodges are pitch-black inside," says Rossman. "In a darkened sweat lodge, a person conceivably could faint or otherwise become unconscious without anyone knowing." Saunas, on the other hand, usually have lights so you or people near you can tell if someone is suffering or unconscious, he says.
• Listen to your body. People need to pay attention to physical sensations, says Rossman, particularly at a sweat-lodge ceremony, where people tend to get swept up in the experience. Dizziness or a rapid heart rate could indicate that you've been inside too long.
• Set a timer, and hydrate. Don't linger in a sauna for longer than 30 minutes, and drink lots of water before and after you visit one. Avoid alcohol before you bathe, as well, since alcohol consumption during a sauna bath can cause low blood pressure, arrhythmia, and sudden death.