Research shows sauna has same bodily effect as exercise

It is becoming widely known that saunas help detoxify both our skin and the rest of our body. Better circulation, fat loss, and heart health are also well known benefits that have been getting a lot of attention lately. The latest science has people excited over the conclusion that a relaxing sit in the sauna has the same effect on the body as a moderate workout. Research from the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the Medical Center Berlin (MCB) backs this up. In a controlled group study people either rode bicycles or sat in the sauna and scientists measured blood pressure and heart rate. It demonstrated a similar rise in blood pressure and heart rate in each group. This is good news for people who have shied away from saunas due to low blood pressure.

“Saunas can actually be used by anyone who can tolerate moderate physical stress without discomfort. However, people with low blood pressure should be cautious afterwards, as their blood pressure may then fall below the levels registered before the sauna visit,” says Dr. Sascha Ketelhut who is leading the study“Many previous assumptions have been made about the acute effects of sauna use, but so far little research has been done”, says Ketelhut. While the findings reveal that sauna produces the same effects as exercising, Ketelhut warns that people who suffer from low blood pressure should still be cautious. He concluded that “saunas can actually be used by anyone who can tolerate moderate physical stress without discomfort. However, people with low blood pressure should be cautious afterwards, as their blood pressure may then fall below the levels registered before the sauna visit.”