Regular sauna bathing reduces your risk of vascular disease and mental health disorders, according to new study

When is the last time you visited a sauna? Although they’ve been around for thousands of years, saunas have never quite gained the popularity in the United States that they enjoy in other parts of the world, particularly Scandinavia. That’s unfortunate because these heated rooms can provide a lot more than relaxation; they also offer measurable health benefits.

In Finland, one out of every three people uses a sauna, so it’s not surprising that researchers there decided to carry out a review exploring their health benefits. In Finland, sauna bathing typically entails spending brief periods in temperatures in the range of 158 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. As people’s skin temperature rises in a sauna, their body sweats heavily. This prompts their heart rate to rise in an attempt to stay cool.

The researchers link the practice to a lower risk of vascular diseases like cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. They also revealed that sauna bathing regularly can reduce inflammation, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, vascular resistance and oxidative stress.

In fact, they discovered that the physiological responses caused by sauna bathing correspond to those seen after moderate or high-intensity physical activities like walking. Past studies carried out by this research team found that combining physical activity with sauna bathing offers additional health benefits compared to participating in each activity on its own.

When it comes to mental health, many of the benefits come about from the increase in the production of endorphins that sauna use spurs. This is what causes the feelings of relaxation and calmness that drive many people to use saunas frequently.

They also found a reduction in nonvascular conditions like pulmonary diseases and neurocognitive diseases. In addition, they found that sauna bathing can alleviate conditions such as flu, arthritis and skin diseases.