Sauna Use and Heart Health | DirectCare AI
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Blog Fitness November 14, 2026 Clinically reviewed by Dr. Tim Pepin on

Sauna Use and Heart Health: The 20-Year Finnish Study

Finnish men who used a sauna 4 to 7 times a week had a 63% lower risk of sudden cardiac death over 20 years than men who went once a week.

In a study of 2,315 middle-aged Finnish men followed for a median of 20.7 years, those who used a sauna 4 to 7 times a week had a 63% lower risk of sudden cardiac death than those who used it once a week, after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Similar associations were seen for fatal heart disease and all-cause mortality.

In Finland, sauna bathing is a routine part of life, which gives researchers a population in which almost everyone does it and the main difference is how often.

What the study did

The study followed 2,315 middle-aged men in eastern Finland for a median of 20.7 years. At the start, 601 reported one sauna session a week, 1,513 reported two to three, and 201 reported four to seven.

What it found

Over the follow-up period, the share of men who died from any cause was:

  • 49.1% among those with one session a week
  • 37.8% among those with two to three sessions
  • 30.8% among those with four to seven sessions

After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, the risk of sudden cardiac death was 22% lower with two to three sessions a week and 63% lower with four to seven, compared with one. Similar patterns were found for fatal coronary heart disease, fatal cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.

Keep it in proportion
The study included only men, in a country where saunas are traditional dry saunas used from childhood. It is observational: men who use a sauna often may be healthier, less stressed or better off. It does not show that starting sauna use lowers risk.

Why heat might help

During a sauna session, heart rate rises and blood vessels widen, in ways that resemble light to moderate exercise. Researchers have proposed effects on blood pressure and blood vessel function. A sauna does not replace exercise.

If you use a sauna

  • Drink water before and after
  • Avoid alcohol before and during
  • Keep sessions moderate and leave if you feel dizzy or unwell
  • Cool down gradually

Who should ask first

People with unstable heart disease, recent heart attack, low blood pressure or fainting episodes, and people who are pregnant, should ask a licensed clinician before using a sauna.

This article is educational and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own health.

References

  1. Laukkanen T, Khan H, Zaccardi F, Laukkanen JA. Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):542-548. Source
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Editorial disclosure: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All treatments at DirectCare AI are prescribed by US-licensed clinicians based on individual medical evaluation. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Always consult a US-licensed clinician before starting or changing any therapy.

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