To use a steam room when ill

[Professionallytorn]

I have a blocked nose and my asthma is awful. Meds/inhalers aren't helping much. Negative covid test. I have taken time off work for first time in years i feel so awful. Would it be wrong to use my gym's steam room - (not going in gym to exercise obvs) to see if it helps relieve symptoms?

Don't you'll pass whatever you have on
Fill a bowl with hot water and put a towel over it to inhale the steam
Hope you feel better soon

Would it be wrong taking a contagious illness into a confined space which might be populated with well people trying to get fit?

It is a gym, not a ward

Whilst the steam might kill some of the bugs, they also could float around in the air currents so not sure on the overall danger posed to others

Just buy a steam inhaler thing or pour boiling water in a bowl with a tea towel over your head?

Yes that would be a really twatty thing to do. Keep your fucking germs to yourself.

No because you could pass your bug onto other people which really isn't fair. Could try recreate it at home instead with a steamy bathroom or a bowl and a towel?

Only you know if you're symptoms are normal for you ( asthma, allergies etc). If they're not and you have a cold/virus whatever then going and spreading it is very unreasonable.

Airborne droplet infection risk is much increased in steam.

If you're ill enough to stay at home, I'd do that.

Try a bowl of hot water and a towel

That would be a really selfish and dickish thing to do. I honestly can't believe you even have to ask

One thing COVID should have taught us is how vulnerable some people are to viruses. You could be sharing that steam room with someone with COPD, asthma, immune disorder - and the germs you spread could hositalise them.

It amazes me people think their own symptoms are bad enough to mean they need to do something really selfish - but also not bad neough to mean they need to prevent spread.

Don’t do it. It’s really unfair. Get a bowl of hot water and a towel steam your face if that helps.

Don't do it. You will pass on your germs and if there are people doing the same thing as you then you will get their germs.

A bowl of boiling water and a towel has the same effect.

Don't do it. Bit of Olbas oil in a bowl of steaming hot water, bath towel over the head, close your eyes and breathe.

YABU to spread any virus like that. If you’re ill with it, then others will be as well.

Inhale steam ( some Vicks in the boiling water can help) at home. Don’t be an anti-social twat.

If you're Ill, unequivocally yes it would be wrong.

Can you explain what rationale you'd use to support it being the right decision?

No. I often get respiratory illness from steam rooms, probably because other people have this kind of mindset.

How would you feel if you got a second respiratory infection because someone else did the same thing? You would feel so rough if your body was fighting two things.

It's very selfish to do what you are suggesting and that's the main reason not to do it, please

Whooo some people are on fire already. Have not been to steam room, and was unsure if i should go, as desperate for some relief. Assumed the temp would kill any germs. I am NOT coughing btw just very wheezy

Run the shower on hot with the door closed in your bathroom for the same effect instead

I have asthma and allergies. I go to the steam room in the gym when I can’t breathe and it helps so much so I totally get where you are coming from. But I only do this when I know what’s causing my issues and I’m not ill or contagious.

People (ncluding me) are just being direct because you have suggested something doing something that puts other people at risk of serious ill health.

If you think that the heat in a steam room will kill germs, you've obviously never felt the inside of a living or very recently dead mammal. It's bloody warm in there.

If there's a chance you have something infectious then yeah, not cool to go, but I feel for you because the heat and steam really does help with symptoms. Try a shower with the temp as hot as you can bear it, that'll get steamy too though not as effective.

If you are confident it's asthma and allergies then fine ...obviously if its an infectious illness then no.

I say do it. My GP told me to do this when I had a sinus infection and keep a box of tissues outside the door. I went at a very quiet time and it was absolutely disgusting and oh I felt so much better....

But I wouldn't have done it if someone else was around!

@FurryDandelionSeekingMissile Thankfully not felt inside a dead mammal 😮‍💨, but body temp circa 37 degrees, steam produced at 100 degrees, hardly the same thing ?

Absolutely this.

OP can you try not looking at the advice from a defensive place? You posted on AIBU because I think deep down you know this wouldn't be a good idea.

Additionally, if you're not concerned about other people's health, think of your own. Someone with a worse virus might have done exactly what you propose, then you go to the steam room, catch it, and end up in hospital with your asthma.

Just make one yourself. Bowl of hot water and a towel over your head. Or make one in the bathroom.

The steam room is not 100 degrees or you would all be dead pretty quickly

The steam is produced and pumped through a room with a temp of about 40 degrees?