Sauna therapy lowers blood pressure in 50-somethings, new study finds.
- Sauna therapy lowers blood pressure in 50-somethings, new study finds.
- The beneficial effects on blood pressure were observed from the first session.
- It is advisable to seek medical advice before integrating the therapeutic sauna into its treatments.
Are you looking for a good excuse to go for a sauna? Here’s one: this dry steam bath from the Nordic countries helps lower blood pressure, especially in middle-aged people, according to researchers at Brigham Young University in Utah. Their works will be presented at the American Physiological Society Professional Association Conference being held in California April 20-23, 2023.
The therapeutic sauna reduces blood pressure
To test whether the sauna could benefit the vascular health of people over 50, the researchers brought together 18 participants: 10 were in their twenties and 8 had an average age of 55. They were asked to spend 40 minutes in an 80 degree sauna, divided into 20 minute sessions. Beneficial vascular effects were observed in all volunteers.
Scientists have also found that systolic blood pressure drops significantly, but only in fifty-somethings. It fell from 135.25 ± 17.50 mmHg to 122.38 ± 19.7 mmHg. The same was true for diastolic blood pressure which went from 81.6 ± 13.0 mmHg to 69.8 ± 8.4 mmHg.
This reduction in blood pressure is beneficial for people with high blood pressure. This reduces their risk of developing serious cardiovascular diseases. Sauna therapy can be a natural blood pressure lowering solution for those looking to avoid drugs or invasive surgeries.
Sauna and hypertension: a treatment not to be done without medical advice
The Brigham Young University-led study is the first to examine sauna therapy as a potential solution for lowering blood pressure in middle-aged people. The team noted that the beneficial effects were seen in these participants from the very first session. “This suggests that we may not need to go to extremes to see improvements in cardiovascular health when using heat therapy over a longer period of time”explained Olivia Leach, first author of the study in a communicated.
However, while the therapeutic sauna is a natural method that can be used to optimize cardiovascular health, it does not replace prescribed medical treatments. Additionally, people with high blood pressure are advised to consult a physician before using a therapeutic sauna, especially if one suffers from any concurrent health conditions.