Several large sauna studies have determined that the practice is linked to lower blood pressure and decreased artery stiffness. In addition, subjects who visit a sauna four to seven times a week have 60 percent lower rates of heart disease and stroke than those who visit just once a week. "Sauna may be a new way to reduce cardiovascular risk," says lead researcher Jari Laukkanen, a cardiologist and professor at the University of Eastern Finland. "It is a kind of third factor in addition to diet and exercise."