A sauna is not exactly a cure, but it is very helpful in the fight against many common diseases.
The Finnish sauna is a veritable health spa. On its own, it cannot revolutionise health, but it does give you a variety of little things that make you feel good and well.
«Sauna is part of the same package as exercise, healthy food and rest. They are all pieces of a good, health-promoting lifestyle,» says Professor Jari Laukkanen, who, with his research team, has studied the effects of saunas on stroke and memory disorders, among other things.
In addition to all the other benefits, the sauna itself does not cause disease – as long as you don’t take a sauna when you have a fever or if you have an open wound on your skin.
At least these eight health benefits have been found. You can enjoy them if you sauna regularly, for as long as you feel comfortable and if you remember to drink plenty of water afterwards.
1 Reduced risk of cerebral infarction
The more often you take a sauna, the lower your risk of stroke. That’s according to a new Finnish study.
A research team led by Professor Jari Laukkanen found that people who took saunas 4-7 times a week had a 61% lower risk of having a stroke than those who took a sauna only once a week. On average, the people who took part in the study bathed at 78 degrees Celsius and stayed on the benches for 15-20 minutes at a time.
Taking a sauna lowers blood pressure because the heat causes blood vessels to dilate. The pressure inside the arteries then decreases.
Relaxation also lowers blood pressure, and sweating has the same effect. When excess fluid is removed from the body through sweat, it lightens the load on the circulatory system.
«The sauna works in the opposite way to salt. Eating a lot of salt causes fluid to accumulate in the tissues and raises blood pressure, but sweating in a sauna releases fluid. This is why a dehydrating medicine is often used to treat blood pressure,» says Jari Laukkanen.
Sauna bathing is not specifically recommended as a treatment for high blood pressure, but Jari Laukkanen says it could be as beneficial as exercise.
