A new study has found that saunas aren’t just relaxing for men; they may nearly halve a man’s risk of developing hypertension.
Also known as high blood pressure, hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease. According to Medical News Today, in 2014, more than 410,000 people in the United States died from something whose main or contributing cause was hypertension.
How regularly sauna use helps hypertension
The new research analyzed data from 1,621 men between ages 42 and 60 and divided them into three groups based on how often they used a sauna (i.e., once a week, two to three times each week or four to seven sessions per week). When they followed up with the men, 251 participants had developed high blood pressure. When looking at sauna usage, they found:
- Men who used a sauna two to three times each week had a 24% lower risk of developing hypertension than men who only went once per week.
- Men who had four to six sauna sessions weekly had a 46% lower risk for hypertension.
The researchers theorize that the increase in body temperature while using a sauna causes the blood vessels to dilate, which increased blood flow.
In addition, using a sauna regularly may improve the function of the tissue that lines the inside of blood vessels (called the endothelium), which in turns improves blood pressure.
More research is needed, but it’s worth a trip to the sauna, especially if you’re one of the 75 million adults in the U.S. with high blood pressure.
Other ways to prevent or manage high blood pressure
Not everyone is healthy enough for regular sauna use, so you’ll need to talk to your physician first.
There are other ways to prevent or manage high blood pressure, however, including regular exercise, healthy eating and managing your weight. Again, talk to your doctor before making any drastic changes to your diet or exercise routine.
