{"id":12368,"date":"2026-10-27T00:48:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T23:48:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/de_de\/sauna-gesund\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T00:48:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T23:48:11","slug":"is-sauna-healthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/sauna-gesund\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the sauna healthy? Effects, benefits and when you should avoid it"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is the sauna healthy? For healthy adults, sauna bathing in moderation is considered harmless and possibly beneficial to health \u2013 this is how Barmer, for example, sums it up. The full answer is somewhat more nuanced: many of the frequently cited results come from observational studies with Finnish men, and for some people the sauna is not suitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article puts into perspective what research actually shows about the effects of the sauna, where its limits lie and who should seek medical advice before a sauna session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Important note:<\/strong> This article provides general information and does not replace medical advice. If you have pre-existing conditions or take medication regularly, please clarify your sauna visit in advance with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Guests
Photo: Wellnesshotel Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Is the sauna healthy? What happens in the body<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During a sauna session, body temperature rises by about 1 \u00b0C, according to Barmer. The heart rate increases to around 120 to 150 beats per minute; at rest it is 60 to 80 in healthy people. Blood pressure initially rises, and the blood vessels widen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Barmer, the strain on the circulation is similar to a short, moderate workout; Apotheken Umschau compares it to climbing stairs. After the sauna session, temperature and pulse return to normal, and according to Barmer blood pressure even drops below its starting level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What studies show about the effects of the sauna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Heart, circulation and more: the Finnish long-term studies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best-known study was carried out by Laukkanen and colleagues (JAMA Internal Medicine, 2015). It followed 2,315 men from eastern Finland, aged 42 to 60, for an average of 20.7 years. Those who went to the sauna four to seven times a week had a clearly lower risk of sudden cardiac death than men who went once a week (hazard ratio 0.37). With two to three sauna sessions a week, the difference was not statistically clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same research group has published further analyses. The overview below compares \u201cfour to seven sauna sessions a week\u201d with \u201cone sauna session a week\u201d in each case. A hazard ratio below 1 means that an event occurred less often in the group that used the sauna frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outcome studied<\/th>Study and participants<\/th>Hazard ratio (4\u20137 vs 1 per week)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Sudden cardiac death<\/td>JAMA Internal Medicine 2015; 2,315 men, 20.7 years<\/td>0,37<\/td><\/tr>
Death from cardiovascular disease<\/td>BMC Medicine 2018; 1,688 men and women, 15 years<\/td>0,23<\/td><\/tr>
High blood pressure (new cases)<\/td>American Journal of Hypertension 2017; 1,621 men, 24.7 years<\/td>0,54<\/td><\/tr>
Stroke<\/td>Neurology 2018; 1,628 men and women, 14.9 years<\/td>0,39<\/td><\/tr>
Dementia<\/td>Age and Ageing 2017; 2,315 men, 20.7 years<\/td>0,34<\/td><\/tr>
Respiratory diseases (asthma, COPD, pneumonia)<\/td>European Journal of Epidemiology 2017; 1,935 men, 25.6 years<\/td>0.59 (at least 4 vs at most 1)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ranges of uncertainty for these values are in some cases wide; you will find the exact figures in the linked studies at the end of the article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How reliable are these results?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All the studies mentioned are observational studies. They show an association, but not proof of cause and effect. In a commentary on the 2015 study, the physician Rita Redberg (UCSF) pointed out that people who go to the sauna often may simply lead more relaxed or more socially active lives (Deutsches \u00c4rzteblatt). In addition, most of the long-term data come from Finland and mainly concern men; according to Apotheken Umschau, they cannot simply be applied to other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A systematic review by Hussain and Cohen (2018) evaluated 40 clinical studies with a total of 3,855 participants. Only 13 of them were randomised controlled trials, and most were small. The authors\u2019 conclusion: regular sauna bathing has potential health benefits, but more and better data are needed. Prof. Axel Schmermund, a cardiologist, says in Barmer that frequent sauna sessions are not harmful for healthy people according to current knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the sauna good for? Possible benefits at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n