Heated car seats should not be used for more than 10-15 minutes, otherwise it can harm your health. This was stated by Andrey Tyazhelnikov, the chief freelance specialist in primary health care for the adult population of Moscow.
According to the doctor, prolonged heating of the seat increases blood flow and dilates blood vessels. During long trips, this can lead to edema, heaviness in the legs, and exacerbation of chronic diseases. The pelvic area is especially sensitive to overheating - inflammatory processes are activated there, and urogynecological chronic conditions can worsen.
It is optimal to turn on the heated seats 10-15 minutes before the start of the trip and then turn off this function so that the seat warms up to a comfortable temperature and you do not have to sit on a cold car seat, because this is also harmful to your health. In general, the duration of seat heating should not exceed 15 minutes.
Tyazhelnikov emphasized that overheating is dangerous for both men and women. In men, regular overheating can negatively affect reproductive function and increase the risk of infertility. In women, heat in the presence of pathogenic microflora can provoke exacerbation of cystitis and other inflammations.
The doctor advises special caution for children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Due to the peculiarities of thermoregulation, they may not feel overheating, which increases the risk of thermal reactions. Heated seats should be turned off immediately after reaching a comfortable temperature.