Association Between Sauna Bathing and Fatal Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality Events
Cardiovascular System + Sauna
Most sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs) occur in the general population outside of the hospital with few early warning signs. This creates interest in pursuing lifestyle habits that can protect against unexpected fatal cardiovascular events triggered by fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) and fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD). Sauna, known for its benefits for the cardiovascular system, was an obvious choice of therapeutic modality to study in regards to SCDs.
About the study
The results of this study were even more promising than expected, showing that there is an inverse relationship between frequency of sauna bathing and risk of a sudden fatal cardiac event. The more regularly a person utilizes sauna therapy, the less likely they are to die from an unexpected cardiovascular event.
The cardiovascular benefits the participants received from regular sauna therapy are quite similar to low-to-moderate intensity physical exercise, particularly improvements in left ventricular function, blood pressure, and endothelial function. For all-cause mortality events, an inverse relationship was also found, specifically in frequency of sauna bathing rather than duration. The results suggest that regular sauna therapy, even if sessions are short in duration, is an effective method of maintaining and protecting against cardiovascular disease and death.
