Sauna bathing and cardiorespiratory fitness: 26.1-year follow-up

Researchers followed 2,315 middle-aged Finnish men for about 26 years. They measured how fit the men were using an exercise test and asked how often they used a sauna. Men who were fitter generally had a lower risk of dying during the study. Men who used a sauna more often also tended to have a lower risk, especially when they were physically fit. This was an observational study, so it cannot prove that saunas or fitness directly caused longer life.

What this means for you: Regular exercise has clearer benefits than sauna use, and this study does not prove that buying a sauna will extend your life. Sauna bathing may be a reasonable leisure activity for healthy people, but it should not replace exercise or medical care.