Arteries

We have previously looked at the benefits to artery health on this website. Sauna use helps to increase arterial compliance as well as lower blood pressure. This means that arteries remain more elastic and less stiff. Studies have shown that this works in a similar way to regular exercise.

Exercise ability

Exercise is important to keep our bodies vital, however for some exercise is increasingly difficult as we age. Studies have shown that sauna use increases our abilities to exert ourselves. People with heart, leg, or vascular issues have been shown to have an increased capacity for simple exercise such as walking.

Heart Failure

In one study 149 patients suffering from advanced congestive heart failure received either infrared sauna treatment and half did not. Ten days later the ones who used infrared sauna demonstrated an increased ability to walk further, breath normally, and had healthier hearts.

Blood pressure

Sauna impacts blood pressure in a similar way to exercise. In Finland, a study showed that 30 minutes of sauna on 102 people dropped diastolic and systolic blood pressure an average of 7 or 8 points each. In a larger study of 1600 middle ages men over 20 years it was demonstrated that regular sauna use cut the risk of high blood pressure in half with taking other factors into account.

Inflammation

Sufferers from Lyme disease are known to be recommended sauna therapy to deal with increased inflammation. Inflammation is eased through increased circulation and through activating heat shock proteins which help repair our bodies and target inflamed tissue.

Risk of Pneumonia

In analysis of the Finnish database, the risk of developing pneumonia over several decades was cut in half in the group using steam sauna with the most frequency.

Sudden and overall death risk

If you combine regular exercise and regular sauna bathing you can you drop your risk of dying suddenly, usually to blocked heart arteries, by a third? And your overall risk of dying by 50% or more? Yes you can, according to a study of sudden death and another study on overall mortality from Finland.

Dementia

Sauna use is associated with better mental health including protection from dementia. Psychology Today released an article outlining a 66% reduction in Alzheimer’s risk in regular sauna users. Read more about the specifics of sauna and brain health here.

In conclusion sauna use may be considered as a great tool to be used in conjunction with other healthy practices to help extend our lives.