Abstract
Sauna bathing is a form of thermal therapy that has been utilized for
generations primarily in the Scandinavian countries as a health tonic to
improve well being. Current research into sauna bathing has found that
not only is it extremely safe for most people, it appears to have
significant health benefits for the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular
systems. These vascular benefits are the most likely reason that regular
sauna bathing has been associated with a decreased rate of dementia,
lower mortality, and improvements in people with heart failure. Sauna
bathing is safe but not entirely without risk. To minimize any risk of
an adverse health event, alcohol should be avoided when sauna bathing,
and bathing should not be done alone. Taking short cooling breaks when
sauna bathing may maximize benefits by decreasing vascular stiffness and
helping the blood vessels become more responsive to heat and other forms
of stress.
Keywords. Sauna bathing, heat therapy, dementia, vascular
diseases
Introduction
Sauna bathing has been utilized for health benefits by gently increasing
the body temperature. It is a common practice in the Scandinavian
countries, and in particular Finland, where there is approximately 1
sauna for every 5 people
[1].
Sauna bathing induces several physiological effects, including
cardiovascular and hormonal changes. It is generally safe and well
tolerated by most healthy adults and children. There have been multiple
reports of various health benefits of sauna exposure ranging from
improving heart failure, decreasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and
decreasing all-cause mortality
[2–4].
A common mechanism for these multiple medical benefits may be the
beneficial effects sauna bathing has upon the vascular system and lipid
profiles
[5,
6].