Sauna bathing and risk of psychotic, mood, and cardiovascular outcomes: dose-response tables by sex

Researchers followed 2,315 middle-aged Finnish men for about 20 years. They compared men who used a sauna once a week with those who went several times a week. Health records showed that more frequent sauna use was linked with fewer psychotic disorders, mood disorders, and some heart and blood-vessel problems. This was an observational study, meaning the researchers watched existing habits rather than assigning people to use a sauna, so it cannot prove that sauna use caused the lower risks.

What this means for you: This does not show that buying a sauna will prevent mental illness or heart disease. Sauna use may be reasonable if you enjoy it and can do so safely, but healthier habits such as exercise, not smoking, and treating high blood pressure have stronger evidence.