According to a study led by the University of Eastern Finland, those who go to the sauna more frequently have a reduced risk of high blood pressure. This study is not new, but we thought it is worth bringing up again because high blood pressure is such a prevalent health condition.
The study by researchers Francesco Zaccardi and his team found that men who take a sauna four to seven times per week have an almost 50% lower risk for high blood pressure than those with only one session a week.
The study included more than 1,600 middle-aged men from eastern Finland who had not suffered from high blood pressure at the start of the study. The men were divided into three groups based on the frequency of sauna visits: once a week, two to three times a week, and four to seven times a week.
The study lasted a long time, around 22 years, after which the researchers invited the participants back for a check-up. 240 men developed high blood pressure during the follow-up, about 15 percent of the total study population.
Those who took a sauna 2-3 times per week were 24% less likely to develop high blood pressure than those who went only once a week. For those taking a sauna 4-7 times per week, the risk was reduced by 46%. How awesome is that?
Of course, the study does not fully prove that saunas cause a reduction in risk, but the results are significant enough to suggest that there may be a connection.
The researchers believe that the health benefits of sauna bathing come mostly from heat exposure, which leads to the dilation of blood vessels and improved circulation. Your body temperature increases by up to 2 degrees Celsius when you are in a sauna, and your heart rate goes up as well.
Frequent use of the sauna improves the function of the inner surface of the blood vessels, the endothelium. Sweating reduces the amount of fluid in the body. Finally, the sauna relaxes the body and mind. According to current scientific knowledge, all of these factors can have a beneficial effect on blood pressure.
So there you have it, another great reason to make sauna a part of your life. If you don’t have a sauna at home, look for a public one in your area or check out our outdoor sauna kits that you can purchase and assemble yourself.
We are happy to help you find the perfect sauna solution for your needs! We can even build a sauna on wheels so you can take it with you wherever you go!
