Recent Studies Conclude Sauna Prevents High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is one of the biggest health threats in the western world, often called the “silent killer”, high blood pressure puts a strain on cardiovascular systems leading to higher risk of a heart attack or a stroke. It’s good news that an Australian study has concluded that heat therapy lowers blood pressure and improves blood vessel dilation (Experimental Physiology, June 2021). Earlier this year another study found that sauna use improves cardiovascular health in people with high stress jobs (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Jan. 27, 2021). Also it has been shown to help blood flow in people with stable coronary artery disease (Canadian Journal of Cardiology, March 2021). This builds on the famous JAMA study demonstrating the same thing.
The Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease (KIHD) study in Finland included a sample of 2,682 middle aged healthy Finnish men. These men were tracked for an average of 22 years and a clear correlation was found in improved cardiovascular health with the frequency of sauna use. The study came to the conclusion that in sauna blood volume to the periphery and skin increases and blood pressure is lowered in internal organs. There is evidence to suggest benefits to the endothelium. Sauna has been shown to help the nervous system which also explains blood pressure benefits. Next, since heart rate is increased during a sauna session it mimics the cardiovascular benefits of a workout session.
Related Articles
How Saunas Affect Metabolic Health and Insulin Sensitivity
I'll admit, I first started using saunas because they felt good. The relaxation, the heat, the quiet—it was a break from everything else. I didn't think much about what was happening inside my body beyond "sweating out toxins" (which, let's be honest, isn't really how...
Sauna Therapy for Chronic Pain Management
Living with chronic pain can feel like an endless battle. Whether it stems from arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, or sports injuries, the constant discomfort affects every aspect of daily life. While medications and physical therapy remain important treatment...
Sauna and Meditation: Combining Mindfulness Practices
The Finnish have a saying: "The sauna is the poor man's pharmacy." But perhaps it's also the busy person's meditation retreat. In our hyperconnected, overstimulated world, the sauna offers something increasingly rare—a technology-free zone where heat, silence, and...
