The journal Neurology published a study suggesting a relationship between sauna use and a significantly lower risk of stroke. As a matter of fact, using a sauna can reportedly reduce a person’s risk of stroke by as much as 61 percent.
For individuals with conditions that leave them prone to having a stroke, the Neurology study further supports growing evidence collected together around the power of using a sauna. Evaluating the experiences of 1,600 people, following their activities over the course of fifteen years, those who reduced their risk of stroke so much were those who spent 4 to 7 sessions a week in a sauna. Subsequently, those who spent 2 to 3 sessions a week in a sauna also saw a lower stroke risk of 14 percent on average.
Although saunas are associated with relaxation and pleasure, they’re proven to be somewhat of a miracle cure to some of the people in this study. That’s certainly exciting news for Canadians already using saunas or for those considering getting started. It is suspected why saunas lower stroke risk has to do with how they are known to lower blood pressure in general. Although no sauna product can accurately make such a specific claim as ‘being able to lower stroke risk by 61 percent’, this study is still very notable.
Some of the other conditions that have been observed to see a lower risk when linked to sauna use include high blood pressure, dementia, and cardiovascular disease-related death. Although we don’t oftentimes consider using a sauna to be akin to a medical prescription, for those struggling with serious chronic pain conditions and/or those unable to exercise, this is a way to engage and stay healthy.
Despite all the very good news, do keep in mind there are some people recommended to avoid saunas altogether. For these people, saunas do not present positive benefits in every case. Canadians who shouldn’t be in saunas include anyone who is prone to low blood pressure, anyone who has had a recent heart attack, or who are suffering from unstable angina.
To this point, if you’re going to embark on a regular routine of sauna visits and are fifty years of age or older, we always recommend consulting with your family physician before jumping in. Once you’re given the go-ahead though, have fun with it. It’s the easiest form of exercise one could engage in, if you want to consider it exercise. As it increases your circulation and engages your body similar to exercise, the comparison is certainly a close one.
If you want to know more about the Neurology study, there are a few points worth publishing. Sauna use was studied only in Finnish adults. Finland is notoriously one of the most popular countries in the world for saunas, as they’ve made their way into mainstream Finnish culture in recent decades. Also, the vast majority of Finnish people engage in at least one sauna session weekly, according to research published in Neurology. Furthermore, sauna use was also defined as sitting in a room filled with dry heat at temperatures topping 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you’re interested in installing a custom dry sauna in your home or for your business, contact a representative at Steam Sauna today. We would be happy to respond to any questions and get you on your way with the right sauna for your personal needs.