Proven health benefits of sauna



Visiting a sauna can be not only a pleasant, but also a healthy activity. Among other things, the risk of developing cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, respiratory diseases such as influenza and bronchial asthma, as well as headaches and joint pain may be reduced. All this reduces the risk of death and improves the quality of life no less than regular walking. This is according to the results of a Finnish literature review published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings on July 31.

In one study, those who visited the sauna 4-7 times a week were 3 times less likely to have a hemorrhagic stroke than those who took a steam bath only once a week. In another study, 4-7 visits versus 1 per week reduced the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, staying in a steam room for 19 minutes or more reduced the risk of sudden cardiac death and death from all causes, compared with an 11-minute stay.

Other studies have shown reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure after one half-hour exposure to a steam room, with one long-term prospective study reducing the risk of hypertension by 47%.

The authors suggest that a combination of physical activity and sauna will be even more effective in maintaining health. Staying in a sauna is not only useful, but also quite safe. There have been several cases of sudden death of people who visited the sauna while intoxicated, but alcohol is more to blame for this than overheating in the sauna. A quick exit from the steam room into the cold can be risky in patients with a recent myocardial infarction. Sauna is also contraindicated in cases of unstable angina, uncontrolled hypertension, heart failure and severe aortic stenosis. Other possible contraindications include infectious or inflammatory conditions, fever, skin abrasions, acute dermatitis.

According to the data provided, the bath is safe for patients with stable angina and/or post-infarction cardiosclerosis.

Traditionally, the temperature in a Finnish sauna is 80 – 100°C (176 – 212°F), relative humidity is 10-20%. The bathhouse is usually visited once a week, and they usually spend 5-20 minutes in the steam room, then take a break at room temperature, entering the steam room 2-3 times per visit.

Based on the available evidence, it is concluded that sauna use is beneficial and may have therapeutic potential, especially among people who find it difficult to exercise.