Are Saunas Good for Your Health?

That's what some researchers believe. Each year, millions of men and women head to a nearby sauna. The most common reason cited for visiting saunas is rest and relaxation. After all, exposure to the hot steam is a naturally stress-reliever, thereby helping individuals rest and relax. But new research suggests that saunas may offer other health benefits as well.

According to a new study, people who sit in saunas on a regular basis have a lower risk of developing heart disease and lung disease than their counterparts who rarely or ever visit saunas. Considering that heart disease is the world's leading cause of death, accounting for roughly one in four U.S. deaths, this is huge news. So, how did researchers conclude that saunas may protect against heart and lung disease?

For the study, researchers from the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland analyzed data health data on Finnish adults, some of whom visited saunas regularly while others did not. Finland, of course, has a rich history of saunas. When compared to other regions, saunas are far more common and popular in Finland. Here, Finnish men and women often sit in saunas that reach temperatures between 176 and 212 degrees. And the relative humidity in these saunas ranges from 10 percent to 20 percent.

After scouring the data, University researchers found that people who visited saunas regularly were less likely to develop heart disease and lung disease than people who rarely or ever visited saunas. Furthermore, researchers noted that regular sauna users were less likely to die than their counterparts. More specifically, researchers found that people who visited a sauna at least four times a week were 50% less likely to die from heart disease.

When speaking about the findings, the study's lead author explained that the health benefits of saunas go beyond rest and relaxation; it offers tangible health benefits pertaining to high blood pressure, heart disease, cognitive function and more.

"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 the study's lead author Dr. Jari Laukkanen.

Will using a sauna make you immune to heart disease or other chronic health conditions? Unfortunately, neither a sauna nor anything else is completely foolproof at preventing chronic disease. These findings, however, suggest that using a sauna on a regular basis may lower your risk of many diseases.