The study, conducted by Francesco Zaccardi and colleagues as part of the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Study in Finland, investigates the relationship between sauna bathing and the risk of developing hypertension. The research involved 1,621 men aged 42 to 60 years who were free of hypertension at the start of the study. Participants were asked about their sauna habits, and the incidence of hypertension was tracked over a median follow-up of nearly 25 years. The results revealed that regular sauna use, particularly 4 to 7 sessions per week, was linked to a significantly lower risk of developing hypertension compared to those who bathed in the sauna just once a week. Specifically, men who used the sauna 4 to 7 times a week had a 46% reduced risk of hypertension.
The findings suggest that frequent sauna use may be a beneficial lifestyle habit for lowering the risk of hypertension, which is a major factor in cardiovascular disease. This reduction in hypertension risk may help explain the overall cardiovascular benefits of sauna bathing observed in previous studies. The study controlled for various potential confounding factors such as age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical fitness, further strengthening the link between regular sauna use and reduced hypertension risk. The authors recommend that further research, including experimental studies, is needed to fully understand how sauna bathing influences cardiovascular health.
