Frequent sauna reduces stroke risk, new study reveals

New Delhi : The long believed sauna bath for shedding extra body weight also helps in reducing the chance of stroke. Yes, a new study reveals that frequent sauna bathing is associated with a reduced risk of stroke. Study says, people taking a sauna 4-7 times a week are 61% less likely to suffer a stroke than those taking a sauna once a week.

Stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death. It is one of the major causes of disability worldwide. A team of scientists from the Universities of Eastern Finland, Bristol, Leicester, Atlanta, Cambridge and Innsbruck conducted a study to co-relate sauna bathing with reduced stroke risk and found interesting results. It is first prospective large-scale study on this topic, and the findings were reported in Neurology.

The reduced risk associated with sauna bathing was found by The findings are based on the population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor (KIHD) study and

The study has involved 1,628 men and women aged 53 to 74 years living in the eastern part of Finland and the findings are based on the population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor (KIHD) study.  Based on their frequency of taking traditional Finnish sauna baths (relative humidity 10-20%), the study participants were divided into three groups: those taking a sauna once a week, those taking a sauna 2-3 times a week, and those taking a sauna 4-7 times a week.

It has been observe that participants who took frequent saunas experienced the lower risk of stroke. Compared to people taking one sauna session per week, the risk was decreased by 14% among those with 2-3 sessions and 61% among those with 4-7 sessions. The association persisted even when taking into account conventional stroke risk factors, such as age, sex, diabetes, body mass index, blood lipids, alcohol consumption, physical activity and socio-economic status. The strength of association was similar in men and women.

Other findings from the KIHD study at the University of Eastern Finland have also shown that frequent sauna bathing significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. According to the researchers, sauna bathing mechanism which reduces the chance of stroke may include a reduction in blood pressure, stimulation of immune system, a positive impact on the autonomic nervous system, and an improved cardiovascular function. In a recent experimental study, the same group of scientists also proved that sauna bathing has acute effects on the stiffness of the arterial wall, influencing blood pressure and cardiac function parameters.