Finns are known for their ancient sauna habit, which dates back 10,000 years to the use of earthen pits. Nowadays their tradition is to toast themselves in a tent or small wooden cabinet, often followed by a jump in a frigid lake.
New research indicates that regular saunas could be as healthful as regular exercise. Bonus: You don’t really have to do that frosty dip.
Study: The Mayo Clinic Proceedings recently published a paper titled “Cardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing: A Review of the Evidence.” The researchers conclude: “Emerging evidence suggests that sauna bathing may be linked to several health benefits, which include reduction in the risk of vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and neurocognitive diseases; nonvascular conditions such as pulmonary diseases; mortality; and amelioration of conditions such as arthritis, headache, and flu.”
Methods and results: A team of researchers (yes, from Finland) reviewed all existing studies on sauna bathing through February of this year. The studies typically included subjects who spent five to 20 minutes in a sauna heated to 175 to 210 degrees, followed by a swim, shower or return to room temperature. Sauna exposure raised subjects’ heart rates to 120 beats to 150 beats per minute and increased blood flow to the skin, much as moderate exercise does.