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Research Suggests That Saunas Help You Live Longer

Posted by samzenpus on from the sweat-it-out dept.

jones_supa writes A study of Finnish men suggests that frequent sauna baths may help you live longer. Previous research has suggested that saunas might improve blood vessel function and exercise capacity, or even lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension. The new study links long, hot sauna baths with more benefits, including fewer deaths from heart attacks, strokes, various heart-related conditions and other causes. The study tracked 2315 Finnish men for nearly 20 years on average. Most participants used saunas at least once weekly. Those who used them four to seven times weekly received the greatest benefits. The study published in JAMA Internal Medicine wraps up by saying that further studies are warranted to establish the potential mechanism that links sauna bathing and the aforementioned cardiovascular benefits.

3 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Easy life by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I bet if I had the time to visit the fucking spa 7 days a week I'd live a heck of a lot longer too.

    1. Re:Easy life by pepty · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And we're not talking about those painful last 5 years where you can't do anything, but 5 years of vitality to your productive mid-life.

      Cite? I'm genuinely curious. The trick is finding research that is based on intervention, not just observation. For example: studies of runners. People who are still running at age 55+ have been intensively selected by their joints over the years, many people will have experienced knee/hip/ankle/back problems well before that age and quit. How do you establish the control group: people who could keep running but choose not to? Otherwise you are conflating the benefits of not being at risk for arthritis, tendinosis, vertabrae/disk issuses, torn meniscus, etc. with the benefits of exercise.

  2. Re:didn't the romans figure this out long ago? by itzly · · Score: 5, Funny

    And how many are still alive ?