Researchers Regular sauna work more effectively than many remedies

Regular sauna courses prevent diseases
It is popularly said that sweating is healthy. In fact, scientific studies have shown that you can prevent a number of diseases with sweat cures. Regular sauna courses are better than some remedies and should even prolong your life.

Sauna is much more than wellness
For some people sauna visits are part of the wellness offer, for others they are an important contribution to the prevention of diseases. The intense change between extreme heat and cooling strengthens the immune system and has a positive effect on the heart, vessels, respiratory system and metabolism. Even life expectancy is increased, as evidenced by the analysis of a number of scientific studies. The study by the University of Eastern Finland showed that regular sauna visits offer a particularly effective protection against sudden cardiac death and other cardiac risks.

Regular sauna courses not only strengthen the immune system, but also protect against a number of diseases. The sweat cures, according to studies, even life-prolonging. (Image: nd3000 / fotolia.com)

Frequent sauna visits reduce heart attack risk
The study of the scientists around the cardiologist Jari A. Laukannen was published in the journal "Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama) Internal Medicine". It states that men who visit a sauna two or three times a week have a 22 percent lower risk of dying from a heart attack. And those who even take sauna four to seven times a week have a 63 percent lower risk.

The more frequent, the better
Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland examined 2,315 men between the ages of 42 and 60 in eastern Finland, where sauna use is particularly widespread. The men, who often go to the sauna, have been accompanied for several years for the study. It showed that the risk of dying from coronary artery disease was 23 percent lower in men who use the sauna twice a week instead of once a week. And at four to seven sauna visits "the risk was according to the information even 48 per cent lower".

Dear longer than shorter
The scientists also found that the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease was 27 percent lower for men who visit the sauna two or three times a week instead of once a week. With four to seven sauna visits, the risk was even 50 percent lower than the men who only once a week sauna. In addition, for the first group, the risk of dying from any other disease was 24 percent and 40 percent lower for the second group. It is also more beneficial, according to the study, to "stay in the sauna for more than 19 minutes, than spend less than eleven minutes in the heat".

Reason for higher life expectancy is unclear
The editor-in-chief of Jama Internal Medicine, Rita Redberg of the University of California, said, "Although we do not know why the men who visit a sauna more frequently have longer life expectancy (whether because of it) time in the hot room, the time to relax, the leisure of a life that leaves more time to relax, or the camaraderie in the sauna), time in the sauna is obviously well-used time. "

For health prevention and treatment of diseases
"This is the first study to show prospectively that regular sauna use significantly reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death, coronary and cardiovascular mortality, as well as all-cause mortality," commented Gian Flury, chief cardiologist at the Scuol Medical Clinic (Switzerland) in the "Swiss Medicine Forum". He added, "The study results are clinically relevant due to the robust data available. That's why we doctors can recommend our patients regular sauna bathing as efficient primary prevention. "

"Sauna is one of the most underrated measures that can be used to prevent many diseases," said the Berlin internist and specialist in physical medicine, Rainer Brenke. In his opinion, regular sauna for both health prevention and for the treatment of diseases should be propagated and promoted more than before.

Sauna helps with skin diseases
In addition to the protection against influenza infections, sauna can also be useful for skin diseases - such as psoriasis (psoriasis). Also, some patients with atopic dermatitis or chronic urticaria (nettle fever) reported a positive effect of the sauna. In addition, studies have described analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in rheumatic and degenerative diseases of the locomotor system.

Some people have to be careful when saunaing
Despite the positive effects of frequent sauna courses, certain groups of people should be careful when taking a sauna. This applies, among other things, to people with strong varicose veins or other venous vascular diseases. And even with existing cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiac arrhythmia (heart palpitations, tachycardia) or high blood pressure, patients should seek medical advice before a sauna visit. For circulatory problems such as dizziness should also not be sauna.

In addition, inexperienced sauna visitors should not start in the first three months of pregnancy, because during this period, the unborn child is the most sensitive. If expectant mothers feel uncomfortable in the sauna, they should leave immediately. Especially towards the end of the pregnancy a cold dip is not recommended. (Ad)