For many, a visit to the health club is not complete without a stint in the sauna; it is a relaxing experience that has been hailed for detoxing the body and speeding up metabolism. But a new study claims sauna bathing can do so much more: it could reduce the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.

Share on Pinterest Men who used a sauna at least 2-3 times a week were found to be at lower risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality than those who had a once-weekly sauna session.

The research team, including Dr. Jari A. Laukkanen of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, publishes its findings in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Past studies have indicated that sauna bathing has significant benefits for cardiovascular health. Exposure to the high heat of saunas – which is recommended to be around 80-100°C – has been linked to improved blood circulation, reduced blood pressure and better heart function.

Dr. Laukkanen and colleagues note, however, that few studies have investigated the association between long-term sauna use – including the duration and frequency of use – and the risk of sudden cardiac death, fatal coronary heart disease (CHD), fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality.

With this in mind, the researchers assessed such associations among 2,315 men aged 42-60 from eastern Finland who were part of the Finnish Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study.

At study baseline, all men completed a questionnaire disclosing how many times they used a sauna each week, how long each session lasted and the average temperature they bathed at.

Over an average follow-up period of almost 21 years, there were 190 sudden cardiac deaths, 281 cases of fatal CHD, 407 cases of fatal CVD and 929 deaths from all causes.