Are saunas good for you?

Whether at a health club, a spa or on a vacation, many people have tried sauna bathing. After a good sweat, it’s reasonable to ask: Would doing this regularly make me healthier?

The answer isn’t definitive — many studies of sauna use are small and most focus on men from Finland. However, growing evidence suggests that regular, brief sauna sessions can benefit heart health and promote longevity. They also may protect cognitive, immune and lung function. Similar benefits may occur with other forms of heat bathing, such as hot tubs and steam rooms.

Saunas and similar heat-based bathing have been used for thousands of years across many cultures. Finnish people use saunas. Some Native American cultures have a sweat lodge. The Romans had the caldarium. Russian people have banyas, and Waon therapy means “soothing warmth” in Japanese.