Sauna bathing and socioeconomic status-related mortality risk

Researchers followed Finnish adults for many years and compared sauna habits with later deaths. They also considered socioeconomic status, meaning factors such as income, education, and job type. People who used a sauna more often generally had a lower risk of dying during the follow-up period, including among people with lower socioeconomic status. But this was an observational study, meaning researchers observed people’s habits rather than assigning them to use a sauna.

What this means for you: Sauna use may be linked with better health, but this study cannot prove that saunas prevent deaths. It does not justify buying a sauna, especially since healthier people may also be more likely to use one.