Regular sauna baths make you happier?

Sauna - Photo 1.

People who take saunas regularly report better overall health, higher energy levels and feeling happier - Image generated by AI

People who take saunas regularly reported better overall health, higher energy levels and a greater sense of well-being. They also had lower rates of high blood pressure and less physical pain, compared to people who did not regularly use saunas.

Learn about the benefits of sauna

Most previous studies on the health benefits of saunas have been based on the Finnish population, where saunas are an important part of the culture.

This time, the researchers conducted a survey with people in northern Sweden, aiming find out if regular sauna bathing has the same benefits as in Finland.

The team used data from the MONICA Northern Sweden 2022 study, a long-term health survey that tracks cardiovascular risk factors in the general population.

“In recent years, I have become increasingly interested in health and nature,” says study author Åsa Engström, a professor at Luleå University of Technology. “I read about the benefits of sauna bathing, about the positive effects on cardiovascular health. We then included questions about sauna bathing habits in the northern Swedish MONICA study, which compares health parameters between sauna bathers and non-sauna bathers.”

Scientists recruited 1,180 adults aged 25 to 74 from the two provinces of Norrbotten and Västerbotten in northern Sweden. Of those, 971 (about 82%) answered questions about their sauna habits. Sixty-six percent said they took a sauna at least once a month.

The survey collected a range of information such as health status, lifestyle and mental well-being. There were also questions about sauna bathing habits, such as bathing frequency, time spent in the bath, room temperature, etc.

Other questions assessed physical activity levels, smoking and alcohol habits, sleep satisfaction, pain experience, anxiety, and depression.

Significant differences in sauna users

The results showed that there were significant differences between regular sauna users and non-sauna users. Overall, sauna users tended to be younger, more physically active, and reported better overall health. Compared to non-sauna users, they had lower rates of high blood pressure and less physical pain.

Mental health outcomes also differed between the two groups. Sauna users reported lower levels of anxiety and depression, while energy and happiness levels were higher. They also expressed greater satisfaction with sleep quality.

Notably, these benefits were most pronounced in people who took saunas one to four times a month. But sauna bathing more often than this did not result in additional improvements in mental health or energy.

Most people will stay in the sauna for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Sauna temperatures range from 60 to 80 degrees Celsius, and electric saunas are the most common. Most people sauna with others rather than alone.

While these results are consistent with previous studies on the health benefits of saunas, the researchers note that the study has several limitations. First, the data was collected at only one point in time, so further long-term studies or clinical trials are needed.

Additionally, the sauna population tended to be younger and more male, which may have influenced the results. Both age and gender may have independent effects on health, independent of sauna use.