A few days ago, as I was writing about my virtual sauna buddy, I started wondering if I’m actually going to the sauna too often. How much sauna is too much sauna, in terms of benefits vs. harm? Or is the sauna one of those things you can’t overdose on?
Well, actually it’s quite possible to get a lethal dose of sauna, as we saw in the 2010 World Sauna Championships. Yes, such an event was indeed held annually in Finland, until 2010 when finalists refused to get out from the insanely hot sauna. As a result, a Russian contestant died and a Finnish contestant fell in a coma. That was the last year the World Championships were held.
To be clear, what I’m concerned about is “normal” sauna habits, and in particular if there’s a limit for how often one should go before the benefits are outweighed by adverse effects. Many Finns go to the sauna several times per week and personally I to go to the sauna almost every day. My sessions aren’t long, typically just 15 minutes and the temperature is approximately 75 degrees Celsius.
Sauna is part of my daily routine and especially during the cold, dark wintertime, it’s a lifeline. It’s extremely relaxing and makes me feel good, especially after a long walk or some other form of exercise. It’s also a place where I can meditate.
Some interesting research on the health benefits of sauna has been done by researcher Tanjaniina Laukkanen and professor, cardiologist Jari Laukkanen. They’ve published 15 peer-reviewed papers on the topic and they even have a book called Sauna, Body & Mind (original Finnish title is “Sauna, keho & mieli”). Their studies confirm that we’ve been told as kids is largely true: sauna is indeed healthy for you!
According to the authors, regular sauna exposure is connected to a decreased risk of heart diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. There are also positive effects on blood pressure and vascular function. Sauna also seems to have a stress reducing effect – something that most Finns have instinctively always known based on personal experience.
And finally, sauna is also considered to be safe, i.e. no adverse physiological effects have been detected. When professor Laukkanen was asked how often you should go to the sauna, his response was that given all the health benefits, you should go at least several times a week. He also admitted that he himself goes to the sauna almost daily.
Spoken like a true Finn.