Regular sauna users may have fewer chronic diseases

contentjunkie (73)in #life • 6 years ago

From Reuters

Past studies on the health benefits of saunas have yielded mixed results because they focused on many different types of sauna and were too small or brief to assess long-term health outcomes from routine use, the authors note in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
In the current study, researchers examined only the type of sauna typically used in Finland, where saunas are engrained in daily life for many adults. These saunas usually have temperatures of 80 to 100 degrees Celsius (176 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit) and very dry air, with relative humidity of about 10 to 20 percent.

When they looked at research focused on Finnish saunas, the study team found routine use associated with a lower risk of many common chronic health problems as well as a lower risk of premature death from all causes.

“Beyond pleasure and relaxation, evidence suggests that sauna bathing has several health benefits, which include reduction in the risk of vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke and memory diseases,” said lead author Dr. Jari Laukkanen of the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland.

As a regular sauna user I was glad to read this headline. All I really know is I shed enough water weight each time that my clothes fit better the next day and it really helps clear the head and ease anxiety. I can't say enough good things about how I feel after the sauna. Although I do prefer steam rooms if given the option.