Key Takeaway
This comprehensive review confirms cardiovascular benefits of regular sauna use, including improved endothelial function, reduced blood pressure, and lower cardiovascular mortality.
Summary
This systematic review compiled evidence from multiple studies on sauna bathing's health effects, with particular focus on cardiovascular outcomes.
The review found consistent evidence for several cardiovascular benefits: improved endothelial function, reduced arterial stiffness, lower blood pressure, and decreased cardiovascular mortality. The evidence was strongest for traditional Finnish-style saunas.
The authors concluded that regular sauna bathing is associated with reduced risk of vascular diseases and overall mortality, though they noted that more RCTs are needed.
Methods
- Systematic review of sauna bathing literature
- Focus on cardiovascular outcomes
- Included both traditional Finnish and infrared saunas
- Assessed quality of evidence
Key Results
- Consistent cardiovascular benefits across studies
- Blood pressure reduction with regular use
- Improved endothelial function
- Reduced arterial stiffness
- Lower cardiovascular mortality in observational studies
Limitations
- Most evidence from observational studies
- Limited RCTs available
- Heterogeneous protocols across studies
- Less evidence for infrared vs traditional saunas