Cardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing: A Review of the Evidence
March 11, 2025
The research article “Cardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing” by Jari A. Laukkanen, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, and Setor K. Kunutsor explores how using a sauna regularly can improve overall health. Traditionally popular in Finland, sauna bathing is now gaining attention worldwide for its health benefits beyond relaxation. The study found that frequent sauna use can help lower the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and memory-related illnesses like dementia. It can also improve lung health, reduce pain from conditions like arthritis, and even help with headaches and colds. The authors reviewed many studies from medical databases to gather evidence on these benefits and suggested that more research is needed to fully understand how sauna use affects the body in the long term.
For heart health, the study found that using a sauna regularly can help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, and make arteries more flexible, which can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Some studies showed that sauna use could lower blood pressure immediately after a session, while long-term research found that people who took saunas 4–7 times a week had a much lower risk of dying from heart disease compared to those who used a sauna only once a week. The study also suggested that combining sauna use with exercise could provide even greater heart benefits. While the research strongly suggests saunas are good for heart health, the authors recommend further studies to confirm these findings and understand how saunas might be used as a part of heart disease prevention.
