Researchers at Brigham Young University in Utah have observed that sauna heat therapy can help lower blood pressure among middle-aged adults. The team is sharing these findings at the American Physiology Summit, highlighting a potential nonpharmacological approach to managing hypertension. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that far infrared and dry sauna sessions may influence cardiovascular health beyond simply inducing relaxation.
The current investigation builds on earlier work from Finnish scientists who reported that regular sauna use correlates with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Those earlier observations suggested that sauna sessions lasting at least 19 minutes were associated with better heart health outcomes compared with less frequent or shorter exposures. The new US study seeks to translate those associations into tangible physiological effects, focusing specifically on blood pressure changes across different age groups.
In the Brigham Young study, participants spanned two age cohorts: younger adults aged 18 to 30 and older adults aged 50 to 64. The research plan involved two sauna sessions, each lasting 20 minutes, with the session temperature set at 80 degrees Celsius. Throughout the sessions, researchers monitored blood pressure along with other vital signs to determine how heat exposure influences cardiovascular responses in the short term and whether age modifies those responses. The design emphasizes real-world applicability, aiming to determine whether moderate heat exposure can yield benefits without requiring long or extreme sessions.
Across all participants, no adverse effects were reported. Blood pressure readings tended to decline after sauna exposure in both age groups, suggesting that sauna therapy can produce beneficial hemodynamic changes without the need for extended heat exposure. The immediate physiological responses appeared consistent between younger and middle-aged volunteers, indicating that age might not significantly blunt the acute blood pressure-lowering effect of a sauna session. These findings imply that shorter, controlled sauna use could be a practical option for people seeking complementary strategies to manage elevated blood pressure, alongside lifestyle measures and medical guidance. Future research will explore how repeated, regular sauna visits might influence long-term blood pressure control and overall cardiovascular risk, as well as how sauna exposure interacts with different blood pressure medications and comorbid conditions.
Overall, the study from Brigham Young University contributes to a broader conversation about accessible, noninvasive strategies for cardiovascular health. As interest grows in wellness practices that support heart function, sauna therapy stands out as a simple intervention with potential benefits for adults across age groups. While more work is needed to fully understand duration, frequency, and individual variability, the current results provide a basis for contemplating sauna sessions as part of a holistic approach to blood pressure management and heart health. [Citation: Brigham Young University study presented at the American Physiology Summit; related Finnish sauna research noted in prior studies]