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Can Sauna Help Lower High Blood Pressure?

Posted on 17 October 2024

Can Sauna Help Lower High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure impacts half of all US adults, according to the American Heart Association. That’s a staggering 122 million people. Fortunately, luxuriating in an indoor or outdoor sauna will probably do more for your blood pressure than a week of kale smoothies. While lounging in the heat might feel indulgent, it also triggers a symphony of positive changes that can keep your heart ticking at a metronomic pace. The sauna’s heat does all the hard work for the health of your blood vessels, improving circulation and reducing vascular resistance, which makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. This process leads to a temporary drop in systolic blood pressure, which seems to support long-term cardiovascular health. Here’s why SaunaFin’s home saunas can help add a consistent wellness practice that gives your heart a natural boost while enjoying some peaceful, stress-free downtime. 

How Does a Sauna Lower Blood Pressure?

The effects of heat on your blood vessels can be nothing short of life-changing. During a sauna, your internal temperature can rise by 2°C, which widens your blood vessels to allow more blood to flow through them and reduces the resistance in your arteries. This process causes a temporary drop in your blood pressure that’s so powerful it can even mimic the effects of moderate exercise. And the more you do, the better it gets. A paper published in the American Journal of Hypertension found people who had high blood pressure and took a sauna 2-3 times a week had a 24% lower chance of this affliction. Those who went in the sauna 4-7 times per week had a 46% lower chance of high blood pressure. They even had lower risks of pulmonary diseases. So, if you need a hot date with long-term health, the custom sauna kit is waiting to warm your heart. 

Sauna and Long-Term Cardiovascular Benefits

Sauna bathing might be one of the most potent health elixirs you can do. Research from Finland highlights long-term cardiovascular benefits for regular sauna users. A European Journal of Preventive Cardiology study found people who use the sauna for 30 minutes at a time can lower their blood pressure and make their arteries more flexible. These benefits last for at least 30 minutes after you leave the sauna, showing that the sauna can reduce your heart’s workload by helping your blood flow more easily. Beyond lowering blood pressure, sauna sessions have also been linked to a decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes. If you’re dealing with high blood pressure, the costly medication to treat it may leave you with a host of unpleasant side effects. Thankfully, using a sauna is the perfect heart-healthy wellness tool with nothing but upsides. 

Heart Starter

Exercise might be good for your heart, but time in the sauna replicates that exercise experience minus the whirring of a treadmill. When you’re in the sauna, your blood pressure actually goes up temporarily, but then it decreases, just as it does during training. While there is a temporary strain on your body, the long-term impacts are massively productive for the health of your cardiovascular system. A paper in JAMA Internal Medicine proved this positive link when it discovered that people who relax in the sauna 4-7 times per week had 48% less coronary heart disease and 50% less chance of dying from a cardiovascular issue than people who gave the sauna the cold shoulder. The jury is in. Spend time in the sauna, and you actively improve your heart health while increasing your chances of living a longer life. So, if your heart wants the gym but your body wants a nap, the sauna’s got you covered from the inside out. 

How to Use Your Sauna To Improve Your Blood Pressure

  • Take Regular Sauna’s: Aim to have 3–4 sauna sessions per week, but you can also do 4–7 weekly sessions, which significantly reduces your risk of hypertension. 
  • Session Length Matters: Stay in the sauna for at least 30 minutes per session to create the arterial flexibility that helps your heart pump blood more efficiently. 
  • Hydration Is Critical: The sauna can dehydrate you, raising blood pressure, so be sure to offset this with at least 500ml of water before and after each session. 
  • Embrace Temperature Control: Set the sauna to a comfortable yet practical temperature, typically 70–90°C (160–194°F), to get the heat-induced vasodilation that reduces blood pressure.
  • Post-Sauna Cooling: After each session, take a cool shower or allow your body to cool down gradually, which will help regulate your heart rate and blood pressure. 
  • Listen To Your Body: If you feel light-headed, get out and take a rest because you could be dehydrated which can hurt your heart. 

The Sauna Solution for Blood Pressure

Treating your body to a regular sauna routine is one of the most cost-effective and healthy things you can do for your high blood pressure. Of course, it’s super relaxing, but on the inside, you’ll benefit from lowered blood pressure, improved arterial flexibility, and enhanced cardiovascular health. These benefits aren't just a flash-in-the-pan experience. Making sure you have consistent sauna sessions can reduce your long-term risk of hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes by supporting healthy blood flow and reducing vascular resistance. With SaunaFin, you’re not only indulging in relaxation but also investing in a proven tool for heart health. SaunaFin’s customizable, high-quality home saunas offer the perfect environment to maximize these cardiovascular benefits. Whether you want to manage high blood pressure or simply enhance your wellness, this investment pays dividends for your heart and overall longevity. By choosing SaunaFin, you're giving your body and mind an everyday upgrade that’ll leave you feeling rejuvenated and put you on the path to a healthier heart.

Contact us today to learn more about our indoor and outdoor saunas including barrel saunas, cabin saunas, and more!

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