Is sauna good for your heart?

What the studies we have published say — strongest evidence first. Every claim below links to the paper it came from.

1. Beyond the observational mortality data, randomised trials show sauna bathing produces acute reductions in blood pressure.

   well supported · human data
   Read the breakdown →Laukkanen JA, Laukkanen T, Kunutsor SK. Cardiovascular and other health benefits of sauna bathing: a review of the evidence. Mayo Clin Proc 2018;93:1111-1121

2. In large Finnish cohort studies, frequent sauna use (around 4 to 7 sessions a week) is associated with substantially lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, a strong association, though observational rather than proven cause.

   well supported · human data
   Read the breakdown →Laukkanen T, et al. Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events. JAMA Intern Med 2015;175:542-548

3. The strong cardiovascular and mortality evidence comes from traditional Finnish saunas; infrared saunas have a smaller research base, so those findings should not be assumed to transfer directly.

   preliminary · human data
   Read the breakdown →Laukkanen JA, Laukkanen T, Kunutsor SK. Cardiovascular and other health benefits of sauna bathing: a review of the evidence. Mayo Clin Proc 2018;93:1111-1121

4. Sauna 'detox' claims are marketing, since the liver and kidneys handle that, and the weight lost in a session is water that returns on rehydration; the credible benefits are cardiovascular and relaxation-related.

   marketing claim
   Read the breakdown →Laukkanen JA, Laukkanen T, Kunutsor SK. Cardiovascular and other health benefits of sauna bathing: a review of the evidence. Mayo Clin Proc 2018;93:1111-1121

This page collects what our published, cited studies say; it is information, not medical advice. Have a different question? Ask it here.