Health effects and risks of sauna bathing

Kukkonen-Harjula K, Kauppinen K · International Journal of Circumpolar Health

Sauna was well tolerated from childhood to old age and posed no particular risk to medicated, stable patients with hypertension, coronary disease or heart failure; in musculoskeletal disorders baths may relieve pain; antihypertensive medication may predispose to post-sauna orthostatic hypotension.

Population

Literature review of sauna experiments at 80-90°C, 5-20 minute exposures

Limitations

Mostly uncontrolled studies in Finns accustomed to sauna since childhood; the authors themselves call for sound experimental designs before sauna is used as a treatment.